8th grade is a witty, emotive, but most importantly a very accurate portrayal of what it is like for a young girl growing up with the fear of not being able to fit in. Which is very unusual considering the fact that a young, male, adult comedian, Bo Burnham written and directed it.
The film does have its fair share of funny moments like cringey adults trying to cater to the kids by dabbing and the protagonist, Kayla (Elsie Fischer) coming off as painfully awkward when she tries to be cool. However, the humor does not sugar coat Kayla's harsh experience in trying to come out of her shell during 8th grade. Fischer's brilliant performance comes from the details such as her rapid breathing, slouching and convoluted speech that show voraciously what the fear of not being accepted is really like. Moreover, typical archetypes like the 'mean girl' and the 'hot guy' lack the traits those archetypes usually possess in typical teenage movies. For instance, the mean girl is not out to get Kayla as it is often portrayed in teenage films. Instead, her apathy and disgust towards Kayla hold much more power, as that attitude is typical coming from a non fictionalized mean girl. The hot guy is not some mysterious dreamy, smooth-talking macho, it's just some good looking kid with little to no personality because he is a middle schooler. Thus, the absence of teen movie cliches further adds realism to the adverse experience of 8th grade.
Furthermore, the film explores a broken bond between the protagonist and her father, beautifully played by Josh Hamilton. The father's attempts to understand and to connect with Kayla are often humorous and capture the dorkiness so often expressed by our parents. The scene of the two reconnecting touched me to the core, as it was a perfect reflection of the heartwarming feeling that comes from being vulnerable with your parent and having that vulnerability welcomed with the love that has been seemingly washed away by everyday small disagreements and nuances.
In my opinion this movie is a good watch for anyone: for the parents, so they would better understand why their kids who are going through puberty constantly lash out at them, for children so they would see how not to act in middle school, and most importantly for the middle school veterans who can relate and laugh at how they used to be and think "thank god, this hellish time is long over for me".
