Honor Rose (Angourie Rice) is desperate to get into Harvard and get out of her little town. First, she needs a recommendation from guidance councilor Mr. Calvin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) who is a longtime friend to an important Harvard alumni. She is shocked when he tells her that there are three other students on his list; perfect jock and student Travis Biggins (Armani Jackson), school oddball Kennedy Smith (Amy Keum), and bullied nerd Michael Dipnicky (Gaten Matarazzo). She is willing to scheme and manipulate anyone to get her way.
Obviously, I'm getting a whole lot of Tracy Flick vibe at the beginning. Honor is not quite that and she doesn't have a teacher-nemesis. So, this starts a little wonky. She's not actually likeable initially, but she does grow. That's the appeal. I do question two characters' turn. First, Dipnicky's reveal needs more foreshadowing. I was uncertain about the break-in at first, but it is good foreshadowing. His character needs more of that since Gaten does not have that sensibility. Second, it's Mr. Calvin. It's very creepy. It doesn't match the general tone of the movie even after the roofies. I expected the recommendation to go to Kennedy after the live-streaming news. That would work a lot better. Travis can always get a Lacrosse scholarship. Honor has a different path than her Harvard destination. I really don't like that creepy turn, but it's a minor bump in the road.
Obviously, I'm getting a whole lot of Tracy Flick vibe at the beginning. Honor is not quite that and she doesn't have a teacher-nemesis. So, this starts a little wonky. She's not actually likeable initially, but she does grow. That's the appeal. I do question two characters' turn. First, Dipnicky's reveal needs more foreshadowing. I was uncertain about the break-in at first, but it is good foreshadowing. His character needs more of that since Gaten does not have that sensibility. Second, it's Mr. Calvin. It's very creepy. It doesn't match the general tone of the movie even after the roofies. I expected the recommendation to go to Kennedy after the live-streaming news. That would work a lot better. Travis can always get a Lacrosse scholarship. Honor has a different path than her Harvard destination. I really don't like that creepy turn, but it's a minor bump in the road.