EIGHTH GRADE: C-
I was rather disappointed with this lackluster, uneventful and boring film. From the previews I was exited for something heartfelt, touching and tear jerkingly honest. Instead I felt most of the film was filler, scenes written to simply add length to make it a full length feature.
I've never been a eighth grade girl and I've never been a parent of an eighth grade girl, but before you disqualify me from having a right to an opinion, I have been a substitute teacher for four years. And for what it's worth, I was an eighth grade boy at one time, who observed eighth grade girls. The dialog between the characters is painstakingly awkward. Far beyond what it would be in real life, severely over-exaggerated.
The relationship between Kayla and her father was rather underdeveloped. Although the one touching moment the film did manage to have, was between the two. Josh Hamilton, the generic version of Denis Leary, did well in spite of having so little to work with.
I appreciated the film's approach to realism. Don't think that I overlook or misunderstand what the film was going for. The scene where she has the courage to tell the stuck up popular girl off was a great pay off. Much like it would come off in real life. You wouldn't deliver a well rehearsed line without flaw. You would stutter, you would forget some of what you were going to say and your nerves would cause you to have a shortness of breath. That scene in particular achieved what I think the whole film was going for. I don't know if any of the rest of the scenes did.
I expected more of a coming of age story, whereas the film was more of a reflection.
Lastly I'll say that I find it strange how many are saying that Eighth Grade has a touch of John Hughes to it. As a huge John Hughes fan I don't see it. I don't see it and I don't feel it.
Probably the most lackluster and lackadaisical review I've ever given on a film but that's the mood it put me in. Elise Fisher did well. I will say that.
