Bad Genius movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Bad Genius

The film releases on October 11, 2024.

RATING: R

LENGTH: 1 hour 36 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: A-

IN A NUTSHELL:

The story is about a group of diverse school high school students who team up to take down a rigged college admissions system.

The film was directed by J.C. Lee, who also co-wrote it with Julius Onah.

As a university professor, it really drove me nuts to see so much cheating, especially because I studied so hard to get my various degrees throughout the years! I know cheating happens at all educational levels. Knowing I often put in more time and effort into my students’ education than they do is so disheartening.

The movie is loosely based on real-life events that happened in Thailand.

THINGS I LIKED:

The cast includes Benedict Wong, Taylor Hickson, Samuel Braun, and Jabari Banks. The young starlet, Callina Liang, gives a really great, believable performance. I had never seen her in anything before.
It’s strange how you’re torn between wanting these dishonest kids to get caught and actually rooting for them. Crazy, right?
Acts 2 and 3 are filled with extreme tension.
The structure of the movie is set up like a heist film with all of the snags, compelling characters, and twists.
Yes, there really are people that are this smart and dumb in the world today!

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

All of the white people in the movie are the evil ones who start all of the cheating.
Bad behavior is rewarded. Great lesson.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Young kids will be bored. Teens might be interested.
There is a lot of math involved.
The lyrics to some songs played during scenes have multiple F-bombs.
Some violence

THEMES:

Education
Competition
Achieving your potential
Success
Sacrifice
Dishonesty
Economic opportunities and class inequality
Bullying
Peer pressure
Integrity
Friendship
Risk
Rationalizing dishonest behavior

INTERESTING LINES:

“Everything is a transaction.” – Pat Stone (Samuel Braun)
The dinner is to raise money. Celebrations aren’t for mascots.” – Bank (Jabari Banks)
“This school gives us the opportunity to make our sacrifices count.” – Dad (Benedict Wong)
“The schools don’t choose us; we choose the schools.” – Pat Stone (Samuel Braun)
“We deserve to be the people our parents didn’t get to be.” – Lynn (Callina Liang)
“It’s always the ones with the most to lose who suffer.” – Dad (Benedict Wong)