Everybody will want some more.

Dearest Hilary,

Jake Everyman was as close to realistic as a movie could get. He was not a normal freshman tho; he did not have to wander around and find new friends, then ditch those friends 3 weeks later when he found his real group of friends. He came to college with an already built in group of friends with their own set of traditions and expectations of college life. Those jocks that were at the theatre parties knew they had an advantage. If any of the ladies declined their advances, the jockos knew they had any of the gay lads to use.

Rewind 3 days, then start off with McReynolds perspective. This could be EWS’s sister movie. I would sit thru a double feature of both movies. Once again this brings me back to living in a college town. I witness this transitional fight every year. The seasoned vets vs the squeaky clean newbies. The folks beginning their last year of school looking down the barrel of their final year; a  good percent do not know it, but are living the best years of their lives. That last year will be the last year they will shine in any setting, because after graduation, they fall into the world of mediocrity. They were the star pitcher of the league, the lead in the musical, the catcher who broke the school record for something sporty, or the costume designer who won an international collegiate competition dedicated to Edwardian spat design. After college they will never be better. Will they be leading happy lives, probably, but they know they will never peak again. By the end of EWS, McReynolds has begun his journey into the mediocre world of grey cubicles.

My future Oscar prediction for this cast: Nicholas Mario, who played the Mad Hatter; Will Brittain, who played Jake’s  underwear clad roommate, Beuter; and Zoey Deutch, who played Beverly. And yes, you are quite right about most of this cast getting stuck in YA hell.  I am glad we both agree that this cast is a great ensemble. An ensemble like this lends itself to multiple viewings, so you can pick up on new things each character does. This can be a good thing for EWS. People will want to see it multiple times. Even own it; keeping it fresh in people’s mind come January. While it does seem like a perfect end of summer movie, I think in August, EWS!! will be a perfect streaming movie to watch with new friends, passing around the bong in the dorm room. But will that translate to any Oscar buzz? We will have to wait and see.

Cheers,

Stephen