There are just SO many films out there! You see two to three wide releases on a weekend with a handful more in limited release. Throw out at least a dozen more on VOD or streaming and now you have an overload of content. But we only have so many hours in the day, and we must be thoughtful towards what we dedicate that precious free time to. That is the point of this series of articles giving you specific reasons why you should run out to your nearest multiplex, drive to search for that limited release, drop some money in the virtual cinema, or to surf those streaming services. Here on The Wasteland Watchlist, you will find some reasons to check out the latest and greatest of films including…You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (Netflix August 25th)
The Sandler Girls
Who would have thought that Adam Sandler’s daughters were so natural on screen? Sunny Sandler takes the lead in this teenage comedy, and she is so likable and genuine in the way she portrays a girl stuck in the middle of the cool kids and the nerdy/dorky kids. She is sweet and relatable but handles the shifts into a more “Mean Girl” feel so believably. Sunny does such a great job in anchoring this fun film. Sadie Sandler gets to be the angry and sarcastic older sister and plays it perfectly. She is a background character for most of the film, but she is quite funny and has a great dynamic with her family.
The Supporting Cast
Does Adam Sandler steal the show? It is so great that Sandler takes a step back and really lets his daughters shine. But when he does show up, he delivers some of the funniest and cringiest dad humor around. He has great chemistry with his real-life daughters and that natural chemistry works so well. Idina Menzel does not get as many moments to shine as Sandler, but she delivers a loving and strong turn as the Friedman matriarch. The biggest supporting turn is Samantha Lorraine as the best friend character. She is so genuine, and we feel for her as well as the central friendship becomes shaky. Probably the standout supporting turn is Sarah Sherman’s Rabbi Rebecca. She is quirky and fun and delivers a character with so much unique personality. She is the coolest and most fun Rabbi around for sure.
Relatability
Who doesn’t love a good coming-of-age film? There are plenty of familiar beats in the narrative for You Are So Not Invited but how genuinely it feels is wonderful. The characters are so empathetic and fun that you will certainly find a character that you can relate to. When you can find a character who represents you on-screen is wonderful. These characters feel like pre-teen and teenagers and a lot of that has to do with the committed performances from this young cast. Hats off to all of them.
The Humor
Are you ready for a good laugh? Or a dozen? Or more? This is just such a fun time. As mentioned before, almost everything that comes out of Sandler’s mouth are dad jokes and they are legitimately hilarious in the ways they make the characters and the audience roll their eyes. There is a great running gag involving Sadie Sandler’s character and film recommendations that she gets from two guys who are totally interested in herself and her friend. There is also a great balance between young Gen Z humor and Boomer humor so everyone watching can get a good laugh out of the film.
Authenticity
Well…how Jewish is this movie? Very…as it should be. This film is centered around the coming-of-age ceremony for a young Jewish woman, so it better brings that authenticity. The film is filled top to bottom with a whole cast of Jewish actors and creators behind the camera. You can feel the culture in every scene and a great appreciation for it. As a Roman Catholic, I got a lot out of the experience being submerged into this world full of love and appreciation.
