“Eighth Grade” (2018) – Movie Review

Written and Directed by Bo Burnham

Starring Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton and Emily Robinson

‘Deeply Insightful’

Perhaps, no time in a person’s life is as formative or important as adolescence. It is often a time during which teens discover their identity, form friendships and experience their most unforgettable moments in life. Whether it is fitting in with peers or keeping in touch with social media, teens face a variety of challenges on a daily basis. However, arguably the greatest challenge of all is surviving middle school. Middle school is a milestone that every teen must go through. Some cope with this transition well, while others struggle to adjust. As any teenager would be able to attest, going through middle school is a nightmare.

Bo Burnham’s latest film “Eighth Grade” offers an insightful look at the life of an adolescent girl going through middle-school. It’s a sharp, funny and surprisingly profound film that touches on issues that any teen will be able to relate to. With his directorial debut, first-time filmmaker Bo Burnham has crafted a deeply moving film about the challenges that teens face on a daily basis. From the struggle to stay relevant on social media to fitting in with peers, the film tackles timely issues that any teenager will identify with. Due to its unconventional ending, “Eighth Grade” is not a film that will appeal to everyone. That being said, it delivers a powerful message that will resonate with anyone that remembers their middle-school years.

 Newcomer actress Elsie Fisher stars in the lead role as Kayla, a teenage girl in her last week of eight grade. Kayla is a shy and introverted girl who dreads going to school every day. Unlike other kids her age, she prefers to spend time making motivational YouTube videos rather than interacting with her peers. As Kayla enters her final week of eighth grade before high school, she begins to discover her identity in life.

It is then that we are swept into the life of a thirteen-year old girl who faces constant social media, peer pressure and the most awkward situations imaginable. At a first glance, this may seem like the set-up for a typical coming-of-age film that we’ve seen before. However, surprisingly that’s not the case with “Eighth Grade”. With his first feature film, writer/director Bo Burnham has put a fresh spin on a familiar genre. Although this is his first time directing, Burnham excels behind the camera. Through gorgeous cinematography, he draws the viewer into the world of a teenager obsessed with social media. From intimate close-ups to stunning establishing shots, the cinematography captures the viewer’s attention from the first minute and doesn’t let go until the end. From a visual standpoint, “Eighth Grade” is one of the most captivating films of the year. It is quite an achievement, especially considering that it is the work of a first-time filmmaker.

Using these stunning visuals, director Bo Burnham crafts a charming coming-of-age story that is sure to resonate with any teenager. With “Eighth Grade”, Burnham tackles timely issues which are relevant in the lives of teens today. Whether it is social media addiction or peer pressure, the film explores topics that any teen will be able to relate to. In the hands of a lesser director, these issues could have been treated in an overly sentimental or heavy-handed manner. Thankfully, though, director Bo Burnham avoids falling into this trap with “Eighth Grade”. Instead, he takes a realistic approach to telling the story of a teenage girl using compelling characters and believable scenarios. Each scene is grounded in a sense of realism and authenticity that is rare to see in films of this genre. Moreover, the characters are larger-than-life and extremely relatable. For instance, Kayla is a strong female protagonist with admirable characteristics that any teenager will be able to identify with. As she makes her way through eighth grade, it is hard to not relate to her struggles.

As far as casting is concerned, they couldn’t have picked a better actress to play this teenage girl than Elsie Fisher. In her first ever leading role, Fisher commands every scene she is in with confidence that is rare to see in an actress of her age. Whether she is stumbling to find words when talking to her crush or feeling insecure at a pool party, she captures the feelings of a teenage girl struggling to find her place in the world. Despite being only 15 years old, Fisher manages to convey maturity and wisdom that is well beyond her years. It’s a star-making performance from one of the most talented child actresses working today. Although Fisher is not well-known in the industry, this award-worthy performance will surely gain her the recognition she deserves.

While the supporting cast isn’t made up of the most well-known stars, director Bo Burnham still manages to get excellent performances out of them. Josh Hamilton is fantastic in the role of Kayla’s tender, wise and caring father. Emily Robinson shines in the role of Kayla’s exuberant senior friend. And finally, Jake Ryan is a child actor with perfect comic timing. As a nerdy teen, he brings hilarious comical relief and persona to the film.

Although “Eighth Grade” offers a powerfully acted coming of age story, ultimately it is not a film without flaws. It is the work of a first-time filmmaker after all, and unfortunately in some ways it shows. If I had a minor issue with the movie, it would be the abrupt ending. After starting out on a promising note, the film seems to be building to an emotional conclusion. Yet, it ends in the most predictable manner possible. It’s the familiar, cliched ending that we’ve come to expect from films in this genre. It leaves a lot to the viewer’s imagination and fails to bring the film to a satisfying resolution. Arguably, the ending is one area where the film falls short of recent entries in the genre (ex. “Lady Bird”). Due to its unconventional ending, this is the type of film that may not appeal to mainstream audiences.

Nevertheless, “Eighth Grade” is an unforgettable coming-of-age film that is worth seeing for its uplifting message. If you’ve ever fought with your parents, felt insecure in social situations or struggled to fit in with peers, then this film will definitely resonate with you. Let’s just say that if you’ve been through eighth grade and remember what it was like, there is no way that “Eighth Grade” won’t move you.

4.5/5 stars