mcgill_j

I actually enjoyed the original series. I was a bit younger than the characters on screen but at least related to the characters. This seems like a generic show so far with no real connection to the original.

They couldn't have gotten Hesseman to play the now antagonistic Principal? Granted I love Krista Miller. But even her role this far just screams please please laugh.. And here's some canned laughter to make sure you're supposed to think this is funny.

The same thing applies to the new batch of gifted kids. No one feels different. All just kind of bland sameness. Granted the old series were very neutral stereotyped chargers but at least they felt different. I can still tell you there was Dennis, Darlene, Arvid, Janice, Simone, Jawarhalol, Eric.. still after all these years those characters stand out. I can't even tell you the name of any of these new characters in the middle of the first episode.

This head of the class isn't even middle of the pack.. More bottom of the barrel.

I have no idea who this TikTok person is. But every single review mentioned her. And as someone who didn't know her? She's a horrible horrible actress. But beyond that? We really have a very shallow character that actually works hard to try and make her likable.. Or a real relatable person and succeeds at neither.

I actually watched it for Tanner Buchanan who I really liked on "Cobra Kai". He's not a great actor either. But definitely better than this.

I am not even a huge fan of the original. But the plot worried at least even though I still find the slam poetry scene cringy as hell. Unfortunately this film basically starts with that and never isn't cringy. Packed full of advertisments for everything under the sun.

It's not even a bad idea over all.. but the other characters are just so dumb and even the progression is awful. It just stickers around. The main character should be shallow and even a bit unlikable but the film goes to lengths to make her like super awesome. Which is wrong and she can't pull it off anyway. They should have made her warm up and it never works.

The one bright spot for me was the original cast members. It's just a brief appearance but still more acting than anyone else in this "production" put in.

A real shame because the original wasn't spectacularly original but had such sweet and even genuine performances from actors who seemed like real people. Unfortunately none of the teen cast in this can make that claim.

I couldn't finish that iconic SNL line for my header, but I wanted to point out something I've seen little of. Granted is a small role but Jane Curtain brings a wonderful sense of humor, warmth and heart to this film. Yes Freeman and Baccarain are fun to watch and have excellent chemistry.

The disease in the film could easily be played for the cheap laugh. And it surprisingly wasn't. A minor spoiler. One dirtbag character you think . Actually you find out isn't, but still kind of is all in the span of maybe 3 minutes.

The cast is very well put together for such an under the radar kind of film. Freeman actually is much more subtle and doesn't play it over the top which he on occasion does. So seeing him here being a bit restrained is great.

It's never going to be the A level romantic comedy drama but falls comfortably in the genre. The one criticism could be it's neither that funny but it's never that dramatic either which sets it in an odd middle zone.