Eighth Grade - Movie Review
Eighth Grade
Plot: An introverted teenage girl tries to survive the last week of her disastrous eighth grade year before leaving to start high school.
Cast: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton, Emily Robinson, Jake Ryan, Fred Hechinger
Director: Bo Burnham
Certificate: 15 (strong language, sex references)
Runtime: 94 minutes
Release Date: Friday 26th April 2019
Having started his career finding fame on YouTube and then transitioning into a dynamite stand-up comedian, the success of Bo Burnham has been a particular interest of mine. I am, unashamedly, a fan. Before this review gets underway, I'd love to recommend his stand-up shows (one of which can be found on Netflix). His comedy is a perfect blend of witty commentary and crazy, wild absurdity. Therefore, as I heard news that Burnham was turning his hand to directing, the anticipation levels were through the roof. And so, after agonisingly waiting months for its eventual U.K. release, I was fortunate enough to attend a preview showing of Eighth Grade and thankfully, it has cemented Burnham as a bona fide genius.
Centering our attention on thirteen year-old Kayla Day (Fisher), Eighth Grade is literally how the title describes it. Following Kayla through day to day life as she struggles to find her voice and suffers with serious anxiety issues, Burnham's debut as a writer and director is less focused with an overarching narrative that has a clearly determined beginning, middle and end. Instead, he presents us with a series of moments that Kayla experiences within her school, social and family life. Whether it be awkward encounters with a middle school crush, stagnated conversations between Kayla and her loyal and caring father (played enigmatically by Josh Hamilton) or finding security and enjoyment in making lifestyle themed YouTube videos that help her overcome certain social situations, Eighth Grade isn't your typical middle school adventure. It's hauntingly real in its depiction of the anxieties children face today. Burnham expertly tackles the mature themes of dependence on being liked and appreciated and overreliance on social media. His writing is beautifully authentic as if we have been made privy to actual fly-on-the-wall conversations. Burnham is also able to brilliantly inject sincere and genuine humour into his film. He manages to unearth the unbelievable awkwardness eighth graders face. From the ridiculous sex education videos, to teachers dabbing and saying 'lit' in an effort to seem popular, to even hilarious encounters between Kayla and her budding friend, Gabe, over chicken nuggets, Eighth Grade balances the horrors and hilarity of early teen life impeccably.
Plot: An introverted teenage girl tries to survive the last week of her disastrous eighth grade year before leaving to start high school.
Cast: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton, Emily Robinson, Jake Ryan, Fred Hechinger
Director: Bo Burnham
Certificate: 15 (strong language, sex references)
Runtime: 94 minutes
Release Date: Friday 26th April 2019
Having started his career finding fame on YouTube and then transitioning into a dynamite stand-up comedian, the success of Bo Burnham has been a particular interest of mine. I am, unashamedly, a fan. Before this review gets underway, I'd love to recommend his stand-up shows (one of which can be found on Netflix). His comedy is a perfect blend of witty commentary and crazy, wild absurdity. Therefore, as I heard news that Burnham was turning his hand to directing, the anticipation levels were through the roof. And so, after agonisingly waiting months for its eventual U.K. release, I was fortunate enough to attend a preview showing of Eighth Grade and thankfully, it has cemented Burnham as a bona fide genius.
Centering our attention on thirteen year-old Kayla Day (Fisher), Eighth Grade is literally how the title describes it. Following Kayla through day to day life as she struggles to find her voice and suffers with serious anxiety issues, Burnham's debut as a writer and director is less focused with an overarching narrative that has a clearly determined beginning, middle and end. Instead, he presents us with a series of moments that Kayla experiences within her school, social and family life. Whether it be awkward encounters with a middle school crush, stagnated conversations between Kayla and her loyal and caring father (played enigmatically by Josh Hamilton) or finding security and enjoyment in making lifestyle themed YouTube videos that help her overcome certain social situations, Eighth Grade isn't your typical middle school adventure. It's hauntingly real in its depiction of the anxieties children face today. Burnham expertly tackles the mature themes of dependence on being liked and appreciated and overreliance on social media. His writing is beautifully authentic as if we have been made privy to actual fly-on-the-wall conversations. Burnham is also able to brilliantly inject sincere and genuine humour into his film. He manages to unearth the unbelievable awkwardness eighth graders face. From the ridiculous sex education videos, to teachers dabbing and saying 'lit' in an effort to seem popular, to even hilarious encounters between Kayla and her budding friend, Gabe, over chicken nuggets, Eighth Grade balances the horrors and hilarity of early teen life impeccably.
FACT: Filming began one week after actress Elsie Fisher graduated eighth grade.
However, even with Burnham firing on all cylinders, Eighth Grade wouldn't be anywhere near as groundbreaking if it wasn't for the star-making performance from Elsie Fisher. There's no hyperbole when I say that after this sensational display of acting, Fisher is on her way to becoming a rising star. She displays such authenticity and subdued charm that it's impossible for anyone not to care for her. Her and Burnham make for a fantastic pairing. His dialogue almost feels purposefully fit for Fisher's exuberance and overwhelming shyness. Kayla is quiet, stumbling over her words, adding 'like', 'um's' and 'er's' to every other sentence but above all else, she's fighting back against loneliness. Her relationship with her father is predominantly one-sided and she lacks any real sort of friendship but it's Kayla's determination to dig herself out of this rut and eventually embrace who she is and not change to fit in to any kind of social norm is the most empowering message Eighth Grade has to offer. If I have but one complaint, there is a scene towards the latter half of the film set in a car and the tension shatters the roof as every single audience member curls up into a ball of uncomfortableness. Avoiding spoilers, it's a very distressing scene that is magnificently controlled by Fisher and Burnham shows amazing restraint but tonally, it's a very sudden change in regards to the comedic scenes that immediately precede and succeed this horrific encounter.
Eighth Grade shatters all clichés of the middle school drama genre and presents a refreshing and sincere depiction of the life children are living in the present day. Bo Burnham has come flying out of the gates as a writer/director to keep a particularly keen eye on and Fisher deserves every morsel of praise she receives. It'll make you laugh. It'll make you cry. It'll make you relish your youth. It'll make you wince in relatable anguish. Eighth Grade is worth falling in love with.
Luke's Verdict: 9.5/10
What did you think of Eighth Grade? Post your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks for watching!!
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