THE RE-EDUCATION OF MOLLY SINGER (2023)

 

Directed By: Andy Palmer

Written By: Todd M. Friedman and Kevin Haskin 

Cinematography: Filip Vandewal 

Editor: Tim Rush 

Cast: Britt Robertson, Nico Santos, Ty Simpkins, Cierra Ramirez, Jamie Pressly, Holland Roden, Zach Scheerer, Paul Soter, Emma Holzer, Carlos Alazraqui, Jonathan Lipnicki, Wendie Malick

To save her job, a young lawyer must go undercover, enrolling as a freshman at her old alma mater, in order to resuscitate the well-being of her Boss' terribly awkward teenage son.

This film does have similarities to the recent Jennifer Lawrence starring movie NO HARD FEELINGS” wow that one was certainly raunchy yet had a certain innocence. This one tries to be dirty but still comes out kind of more teen-friendly.

Have no idea whether this film came first or no hard feelings came first if one copied the other, though both films are very different. This one feels a little more generic. it’s like the no-frills brand. It feels like a carbon copy with no flare. It feels like it should be trying but it’s not and it really needs help. 

While the film does have its risky parts in trying to give a full version of a little bit of the party lifestyle of college. I was a bit shocked, considering who the audience for this film seems to be that it went to certain lengths. it still stays in certain perimeters that feel like it will most audiences. 

This is not a film you really watch for artistic quality it’s more of a feel-good movie that simply gets to the point it’s very predictable, but it entertains fully throughout.

Lead actress Britt Robertson is one of those actresses who always seems to play in these films. She always seems to be the lead and films that are OK, but not good, and usually, She’s one of the best things in them, but then when she’s in more of a studio film, she usually is in a supporting role and she shines. Even as she just can’t seem to find the right material that would truly make her a star that would. At least she's solid in everything that she appears in.

Just like actor, Nico Torres always seems to play the wildly, gay, best friend, in all of these Netflix-branded films. I mean it works and he has one of the most hilarious scenes in the film. though, I wouldn’t mind seeing him play. A different role shows a bit of range, but get where you fit in.

This film does have or commits to a cliché, While I admire it for being risqué to a certain extent it also has this plot point where the romantic rival for the girl who the nice guy likes and has chemistry with is always a jerk, but the film doesn’t even try to make the jerk nuanced. He’s just bad news from frame one, so you don’t see any of the charms that made the girl fall for him in the first place and maybe only shows the side when he’s not around her or when there is a rival. it would be one thing if the film at least was truthful and maybe she sees attitude-wise why this guy doesn’t work and maybe even personality but she’s just attracted to him and is trying to find something deeper than that to justify her dating and staying.

 This happens all the time in high school in movies and even regular rom-coms when the guy is just attracted to a girl more physically and stays around even though eventually wises up, I just wonder why in these types of movies when the girl is dating a jerk it is always unexplainable other than looks why she stayed with him in the first place.

Even the montage makeover scene does not come off as fun, but kind of lame as it just seems like they just dress him more plaid than before. It also doesn’t help. The only thing that seems to be wrong with the man she’s here to make over is that he’s awkward and shy, but he has boy-good looks and looks way too old to be a college student like most of the cast. 

It is particularly funny in scenes when all the college students remark on the age of the two lead characters, even though they look about the same age themselves none of them college age. 

While most of the film's material is generic it stays entertaining and the cast truly tries to liven it up. They give it their all you just wish that there was a film to match that energy and skill maybe some stronger jokes too. Even the third act feels so ridiculous.

Grade: C