Stacy Friedman’s (Sunny Sandler) every thought revolves around her upcoming bat mitzvah – an event she believes will be the most important day of her life. The thirteen-year-old is less concerned with the religious ceremony and more focused on the after-party. Together with her best friend Lydia (Samantha Lorraine), she has dreamed since childhood of throwing a lavish party to mark the beginning of adulthood. However, their friendship begins to fray when the cute classmate Andy (Dylan Hoffman) comes between them. Stacy embarks on a warpath, the teenagers struggle to forgive each other’s thoughtless actions, and the once inseparable girls’ celebrations spiral out of control.
Adam Sandler as Danny Friedman in “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah”
Adam Sandler continues to produce films for Netflix. This spring, viewers saw the second installment of the detective saga starring him and Jennifer Aniston, “Murder Mystery 2.” And now, as summer draws to a close, comes a film about teenagers, which also owes its existence to the popular actor. The youth comedy holds a special place in Sandler’s repertoire. After all, the film stars the actor’s family: Sandler himself plays the father of the heroines, portrayed on screen by his real-life daughters (Sunny and Sadie Sandler). Sandler’s wife also appears in the film as Lydia’s mother (Jackie Sandler). This already comfortable film takes on an extra layer of warmth. “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah” feels like a collaborative effort from the Hollywood family, who clearly had a great time on set. Perhaps they didn’t have to work too hard to get into character. Adam Sandler, for example, is easily imagined off-screen as a caring and strict father in baggy clothes.
Sadie Sandler as Ronnie Friedman in “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah”
This Netflix project is reminiscent at times of another coming-of-age film from this year, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” Stacy, like Abby Ryder Fortson’s character, turns to the Almighty in moments of despair and melancholy. Both heroines are going through a difficult period, and the plots revolve around religion in one way or another. However, the tone of the stories is completely different. Kelly Fremon Craig’s work is a “small” indie film, while the film with the Sandler family is a typical comedy for the streaming giant.
The Significance of the Bat Mitzvah
A bat mitzvah is a rite of passage after which a child enters adulthood. If you remove the Jewish custom from the plot, the story would lose an important component, but it would still remain an accurate sketch of adolescence. The upcoming celebration is a defining line for the main characters, after which life is supposed to change with the snap of a finger. In reality, the friends grow up not at the moment of the planned event, but gradually, learning from bitter mistakes and understanding how important it is to take responsibility for their actions.
Sunny Sandler as Stacy Friedman in “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah”
Navigating Teenage Years
The authors talk about the tender age when it seems that you are no longer a child, but high heels can still be put off for better times. At the center of pubertal passions is the theme of friendship: Lydia and Stacy hurt each other and childishly sort things out. When you’re in middle school and your best friend kisses the boy of your dreams, there can be no talk of a calm conversation without drama. The film with the Sandlers does not avoid шаблонных тропов and does not try to stand out from the pile of Netflix family content. Perhaps all coming-of-age stories are unique and similar at the same time, but, you have to admit, there are never too many of them.
A Cozy Watch
Despite its similarity to hundreds of other films about schoolchildren (primarily produced by Netflix), “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah” provides a cozy hour and a half of entertainment. It is a love letter to everyone who has ever been a thirteen-year-old girl and worried about trivial things as if the end of the world was about to come. But don’t rush to close the tab with the film if you don’t fit this description. Stubborn schoolgirls who are fans of Dua Lipa and prefer grand gestures are able to touch viewers of any age and gender.