In Sierra Burgess is a Loser, debut director Ian Samuels and writer Lindsey Beer concoct a conventional teen story. It's the latest in the line of John Hughes-like rom-coms Netflix has pumped out in recent months, and it's one of the better ones, even though it won't win many points for originality. Sierra Burgess is reminiscent of Sixteen Candles - featuring a new redhead, Shannon Purser (Barb of Stranger Things), in place of Molly Ringwald's role - and centers on a millennial-pandering catfishing plot.
Sierra (Purser) and her best friend, Dan (RJ Cyler, a bubbly comic force), are obsessed with getting into an elite college, though Sierra is out of touch with how that's done in today's world. While Dan embraces the need to make an impact in the digital sphere by getting his vlog on BuzzFeed, Sierra asks in frustration, "Can't you just rely on your straight A's?"
"What is this, the 90s?" Dan scoffs.
Sierra wishes that were true.
In a school where everyone is aggressively 2018, Sierra resists the staples of modern life. She rolls her eyes at the other girls taking mirror selfies in the bathroom. She markets her help as a tutor with a flyer on the school tack board rather than on social media (where someone might actually see it). Most importantly, she wears clothes that are just old enough to be out of style but not old enough to be vintage chic. Since she's smart and clearly self-aware, it's as if she actively crafted her entire persona to not fit in. She sees herself as a rebel. Others see a loser.
When the school's mean popular girl, Veronica (Kristine Froseth), pretends to give a jock, Jamey (Noah Centineo), her number but actually uses Sierra's number that she swiped from the tutoring flyer, a texting flirtation begins. Sierra and Jamey the jock, who turns out to be a total sweetheart (because Centineo is too likable to be anything else), hit it off. But memes and witty repartee only go so far. Turns out even in 2018, people still want to talk on the phone. After that goes well, he wants to meet in person. Sierra realizes that she needs help from the girl Jamey thinks he's falling for.
Sierra convinces Veronica to help - in exchange for aid in Veronica's mission to woo a pseudo-intellectual college jerk. Veronica is her mean self at first, but this is a considerate movie, so the mean girl comes with a backstory that explains her nastiness. After one quick peak behind the curtain, Sierra sympathizes with her. And with a simple gesture of genuine human kindness, something Veronica clearly doesn't receive often, the two form a friendship.
From there, the story follows a fairly predictable trajectory, as conflict arises and each character fails then later has a shot at redemption. The film has its flaws: A scene meant to deliver an emotional gut punch rings false, and a separate supposedly "magical romantic moment" is blissfully unaware that it's completely messed up. Fortunately, the vivacious performers and chipper dialogue provide enough charm to hold everything together.
Like so many rom-coms, Sierra Burgess has fun early on but struggles and rushes when the time comes to wrap up. This one doesn't so much stick the landing as it does narrowly avoid a crash, but in the end, everyone is on the ground safe, satisfied and heart-warmed. Netflix understands that is what viewers crave most, so it can chalk this one up as another success.
