Despite an A+ premise, Senior Year fails to graduate

Painfully simplistic in its execution, which frequently undervalues its clever set-up, and featuring unlikeable, poorly drawn characters, the movie works overtime to make the audience actively dislike it. Stephanie’s two closest friends—insecure, puppy-dog eyed Seth (Sam Richardson) and mousy, kind-hearted Martha (Mary Holland)—act as her conscience, but forgive her far too easily when inevitably called upon to do so. Others like Tiffany and her socially conscious daughter Bri (Jade Bender), Stephanie’s contemporary rival, experience unearned change, despite the latter being given the story’s most compelling arc. Plus, satisfactory resolutions are tangibly muted, dampened by frustrating creative choices.

Since the protagonist is a transplant from 2002, and her manner of speech (aggressively overusing the term “slut”), dance, and dress are directly pulled from that year, this film’s vibes are on par with popular teen raunch-coms of that era. That level of insight appears accidental as none of these filmmakers innovate with their own ideas. It’s not all bad, however, as they admirably comment on stereotypes and gender politics, making some funny fish-out-of-water jokes at Stephanie’s expense in the process.

Wilson, who previously played a woman with a head injury in the far funnier and sharper romcom send-up Isn’t It Romantic, perfectly nails the physicality of a spoiled, selfish teen—feigning embarrassment, touching her face with her hands, slumping her shoulders and putting on a cutesy whine. Her nuance also elevates the material, specifically in the third act, when the script calls on her to sell her character’s inevitable change from selfish to selfless. Her scenes with writer-actor Jones, who also co-starred with her in the aforementioned film, show off their pleasant rapport, yet sadly can’t save the picture.

There aren’t many modern films focused on the female mid-life crisis, and it’s doubtful this will inspire more to be made—a shame, considering that with more craft and care, Senior Year could’ve been far more meaningful, even genuinely uproarious. While the kooky shenanigans and hijinks don’t yield much in the way of heart or humor, its snappy pace and the leading lady’s comedic prowess make it just worthy enough for your Netflix queue. Just don’t expect to be throwing your cap in the air when it’s over.