SummaryStacy and Lydia are BFFs who've always dreamed about having epic bat mitzvahs. But things start to go comically awry when a popular boy and middle school drama threatens their friendship and their rite of passage. Based on Fiona Rosenbloom’s coming-of-age novel.
SummaryStacy and Lydia are BFFs who've always dreamed about having epic bat mitzvahs. But things start to go comically awry when a popular boy and middle school drama threatens their friendship and their rite of passage. Based on Fiona Rosenbloom’s coming-of-age novel.
Director Sammi Cohen and screenwriter Alison Peck bestow this hilarious, heartrending adaptation of Fiona Rosenbloom’s novel with an uplifting, effervescent vision and vitality, giving voice to a young Jewish girl’s struggle to figure out who she is before the most important night of her life so far.
Proof that Sandler still has the capacity to spearhead (as opposed to just for-hire headline) a competent movie—including one featuring those closest to him.
In the beginning I thought this movie was going to drag, but as the movie went on, it turned out to be very appealing to me especially considering it was focused on young teens and had a soundtrack that would appeal to this generation. It features the same type of humor you would expect in a Happy Madison production, but it also has a clever script and an appealing cast, most considerably Sunny Sandler, a daughter of Adam Sandler. She was very charming as a leading actress in a movie and even with Adam Sandler as a supporting actor, it still works very well. I honestly think it's the best Happy Madison movie to date, even both Rotten Tomatoes' and Metacritic's critic scores are a lot higher than all of the previous happy madison films (joe dirt for example.)
IN A NUTSHELL:
The story is about Stacy and Lydia, who are BFFs. They have always dreamed about having epic Bat Mitzvahs, but things start to fall apart when they both have a crush on the same boy in middle school, which threatens their friendship and their important rite of passage into young womanhood.
THINGS I LIKED:
Sunny Sandler is FANTASTIC! Wow! She’s a natural, absolutely perfect in this role, and has an incredibly bright future in film. I’m so impressed and a raving fan now.
Adam Sandler definitely shows his love for his Jewish roots in this movie. I admire that. We learn a lot about the Jewish culture and traditions in this movie as it takes a heartfelt look at modern practices and commitment to traditions. I’m Christian and had the great pleasure of finally going to Israel just a few months ago, a goal that had been on my Bucket List for a very long time. I respect the Jewish people so much and how they are devoted to their religion. Years ago, Adam Sandler created the animated film to teach more children about Hanukkah called “Adam Sandler’s Eight Crazy Nights.” ****/44wydLL You can also hear him sing “The Chanukah Song” on Amazon and YouTube.
I love that Adam Sandler has stepped aside in a supporting role in order to allow his family to shine.
It’s fantastic to see the talented Idina Menzel, even though we didn’t get to hear her sing. How can you invite her to be in a movie and not let her sing?! She and Adam Sandler played a married couple once before in the movie “Uncut Gems” in 2019.
The word “mitzvah” means service, but Sunny’s character learns that the true meaning is “helping others, being selfless, taking the bad and making it good.”
The rabbi is hilarious, although definitely not the orthodox rabbi you’re probably thinking of. She was played joyously by Sarah Sherman.
Young Matteo is completely adorable and played beautifully by Dean Scott **** character in this movie is the perfect illustration of how blind we can be, especially when younger, of the truly kind people around us because we’re so focused on those who are popular. His role in the story also tells the tale of how no guy is worth losing a friendship over with your BFF. The movie’s message to prioritize true friendship over romance is very clear.
Adam Sandler has definitely learned that audiences love comedic bits that serve as a running thread throughout the entire movie.
Every character is clearly defined in this, even those with brief screen time. Loved it.
The fresh take of this coming-of-age story is its raw honesty about becoming a young woman.
There are some cute Easter Eggs that give a nod to previous Adam Sandler movies, like when a boy yells out “Goldfarb rules!” to remind us when some characters chanted, “O’Doyle Rules!” in the goofy 1995 movie Billy Madison. ****/44H20RX
Wow, those middle schoolers sure were invited to a ton of parties! I only knew one Jewish boy in high school and I don’t think Bar Mitzvahs were that big of a production back then.
The values and diversity of Gen Z are portrayed extremely well.
I admit I was a bit horrified at how self-centered and entitled many of these kids were, but I’m happy to announce that touching character growth is shown in the story among many characters. Quite a few experience a touch of humility as they become self-aware and honest with themselves.
Ultimately, everyone in the cast appeared to be having a blast making this movie. THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:
The trailer is NOT good. It makes it seem like the entire movie is going to be yelling and drama. It’s so much better than how the trailer portrays it.
The plot is extremely predictable.
Knowing this was an Adam Sandler movie, I had to emotionally brace myself for the crude humor and offensive content that I assumed would be in this. It’s not as bad as many of his other films, but it did have some content that went a little too far. TIPS FOR PARENTS: There are some crude references to bodily fluids, functions, and sounds.
A mother gives alcohol to teens, trying to be cool.
Adults get drunk.
Examples of both good and bad parenting are displayed.
It always bugs me when religious people take God’s name in vain. They’ve read the 10 Commandments, right? I mean, that one is on the Top Ten list.
It's basically a pricey home movie in which Adam Sandler spotlights his wife and two daughters. It's also an unexpectedly sweet and sassy surprise. Comic dynamo Sunny Sandler, his youngest, gives nepotism a good name as a Jewish girl on the cusp of womanhood.
While Cohen’s latest doesn’t break any genre barriers, this coming-of-age story dissects and visualizes female friendships with grounded realism, welcoming us into its world while leaving room for us to picture ourselves in it.
The young cast proves deft with the film’s clever script, by Alison Peck (based on the 2005 novel by Fiona Rosenbloom), and the director Sammi Cohen indulges the virgin-mojito passions of preteens while avoiding nostalgia, thankfully.
Director Sammi Cohen takes an attention-deficit disorder approach to storytelling, in which every feeling and plot twist is punctuated by a current pop song, and any hint of emotion or thoughtfulness is interrupted by a needle drop.
"My Bat Mitzvah" is a cute, compelling look at life as a Jewish middle school girl. It feels real and respectful as the teen movie for the 2020s. Jealousy, self-consciousness, FOMO, etc. are just some of the themes as 13-year old Stacy tries and repeatedly fails to do the right thing by her family, friends, and religion. The Sandler daughters are very good actors, Adam is great in a supporting Dad role, and the story speaks to viewers of all ages.
Não sei se estou sendo moralista demais ao escrever sobre minhas impressões em relação ao filme, mas o fato é que eu percebo cada vez mais filmes com personagens muito crianças envolvidos em conflitos mais adultos. Ainda que o roteiro não seja apelativo, algumas situações ficaram desequilibradas. Veja o trabalho sensível em "Close", inclusive com sugestão **** entre meninos, pra sentir como esse filme aqui é descuidado.
Ainda assim, personagens como Adam Sandler estão incrivelmente contidos na medida certa, e sim, isso é um elogio. Aqui os personagens principais de fato são os jovens (crianças?), vivendo uma disputa amorosa e uma busca pelo reconhecimento social, além de discutir a amizade. Roteiro batido demais, é verdade, mas ao menos aqui temos como pano de fundo o ritual de passagem judeu Mitzvah, para tentar passar uma ideia de originalidade.
Ainda bem que os jovens seguram as pontas por si, porque os adultos estão uma nulidade, e ainda cometem várias atrocidades no filme, muitos inclusive sendo retratados como adolescentes. Aliás, poarando para pensar, é meio sintomático: e adultos são tratados como adolescentes, e os adolescentes vividos por crianças. Tudo muito precoce.
Acredito que o público mais jovem irá gostar, há um carisma nos personagens, e ao menos o núcleo da amizade funciona. Fiquei com a sensação que um produto estilo série poderia soar mais adequado, mas já que veio o filme, é inofensivo, com personagens simpáticos, que exagera no apelo romântico mas sem soar vulgar. Tem uma linguagem e trilha adequada ao público também. Vale a pena ver para se divertir e, logo após os créditos, nem lembrar que existe.