TV show or Movie: Movie
Where to watch: Theaters, On demand
Genre: Comedy, drama
What It Reminds Me Of: Mean Girls
Writer: Claire Ayoub
Director: Claire Ayoub
Premise: Follows a group of teens learning to love their bodies through inclusive fashion design and friendship.
My Premise: A group of quiet high schools girls learn to stand out.
Cast: Rainn Wilson, Missi Pyle and Mia Kaplan, Jemima Yevu, Jolene Purdy
Review: I went to see a screening of this at Capital Theater in Arlington. Writer-director, Claire Ayoub, was there in attendance. Ayoub is a graduate of Wellesley college where my girlfriend, Sarah, went to college. Sarah has been following Ayoub’s career and got us tickets for the show.
The theater was packed with proud alumni there to see Ayoub’s debut film. The movie is funny. Like, really really funny. Rainn Wilson and Missi Pyle are the big names in the movie, and while they certainly shine, the whole cast stands out. The movie definitely has many serious moments to it. I would call this movie a dramedy, but you will really laugh your ass out throughout this movie. The main cast of six girls are all so funny and work so well together. I love a movie where an ensemble of kids or teens work so well together on camera you would think they have been friends forever.
After the film ended, Ayoub did a Q&A with the audience. She talked about how long it had been since the movie was first written. How she toured the screenplay around the country to get buy-in, the audition process for the teen stars, and how much research and resources when into making an inclusive and powerful movie like this one. I want a director’s cut!
Trailer: