By now, you've probably heard about the popular Netflix Movie Sierra Burgess is Loser. With the titular character being the star Shannon Purser, who played Barb in Stranger Things and Noah Centineo as the love interest, who we know as the heartthrob from To All the Boys I Loved Before.
A loose modern-day adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac, Sierra Burgess is accidentally texted by Jamey (Noah Centineo). Jamey believes he is actually texting popular cheerleader Veronica (Kristine Froseth) because she gives him Sierra's number claiming it is her own as a prank.
Eventually, Sierra begins to fall for him all this while pretending to be Veronica and cuts a deal with Veronica where she helps Veronica study in exchange for helping Sierra maintain this illusion.
Sierra is given multiple opportunities throughout the movie to do the right thing and tell Jamey the truth, but she never does- going as far as to pretend to be deaf so she can avoid speaking to him and having Veronica close his eyes so she can kiss him, pretending she is Veronica.
Eventually, to help Sierra maintain the illusion, Veronica accidentally kisses him. To get 'revenge', Sierra humiliates Veronica in front of the entire school by hacking into her Instagram and posting about how she got dumped on the Jumbotron during a football game.
Let's get this clear- I, who have personally never 100% fit society's standard of beauty, can understand how Sierra feels to an extent. That being said, nothing about Sierra's self-esteem can excuse her behavior whatsoever. Catfishing is, in no situation, acceptable- and it's ridiculous that both Veronica and Jamey forgave her that easily. And it is never, ever, ok to kiss someone without their consent.
In fact, Sierra didn't even properly apologize to either of those people- her so-called 'apology' was just writing another self-pity song, trying to justify her actions.
Not only that, but she was under appreciative of her best friend Dan (RJ Cyler), who is arguably the most likable character in the entire movie.
That being said, there are a few positive qualities about this movie that doesn't redeem the negative parts but should be mentioned in the article to be fair.
The song that Sierra composed, 'Sunflower', was a good song. Many people, including me, can relate to the lyrics.
I also like the fact that the 'mean girl', Veronica, was fleshed out. She was extremely unsympathetic in the beginning, but then she grew to like and appreciate Sierra. Also, I like how her family life and problems are fleshed out and although it definitely doesn't justify her behavior, it helps explain some of it.
All in all, I wouldn't recommend this movie because I find the main character highly unlikable, but that's just my opinion. I guess you'd just have to watch it and judge for yourself if you agree.
