Musician and comedian Bo Burnham is a prime example of the first generation of YouTube influencers, having kick started his performance career via the video sharing platform back in 2006. This is why it’s fondly fitting and unsurprising that the first time filmmaker has strongly highlighted the influence and impact of online and social media culture on today’s teenagers throughout his directorial debut, Eighth Grade. What is surprising however, is just how much of an emotional punch the movie packs.
Probably the first thing that immediately jumped out of the YouTube comments upon the movie’s initial trailer release was how refreshing it was to see a teenage story that stars actual teenagers, closely followed by how cringey and relatable it looked. It definitely ticks the boxes for cringey at times but the most endearing factor of Eighth Grade is something that Burnham has managed to weave into every single scene: it’s so incredibly real.
While its core premise appears to be nothing unique, just one viewing is enough to see why Eighth Grade easily stands apart from the countless pack of coming of age comedies. The first factor that makes this so is the script and direction, while the second is young breakout star Elsie Fisher. If you haven’t heard Fisher’s name before then you’d better get used to it because her performance here is nothing short of phenomenal.
Kayla Day is an anxious but optimistic thirteen-year-old on the cusp of making that exciting but terrifying transition from middle to high school. Like most thirteen-year-olds, she’s self-conscious and socially anxious, seemingly having drifted through most of middle school unnoticed, even receiving the ‘most quiet’ accolade towards the end of eighth grade. We soon see that online is where she thrives: uploading regular videos to her YouTube channel that cover such topics as ‘How to be confident’ and ‘Putting yourself out there.’ These self-help videos however, aren’t a viral or even a local sensation, her audience is obviously very slim but that doesn’t deter her efforts. Kayla’s online advice is contrasted with her real world circumstances throughout the movie, from confronting the verge of a panic attack with hunched shoulders minutes before attending a classmates birthday party to triumphantly performing a karaoke number with a bright smile, every move Elsie Fisher makes is natural and authentic and it’s this performance that makes Kayla such a likeable, raw and relatable protagonist.
The emphasis on the importance of internet culture to today’s youth is something that this film reflects wonderfully, for a generation of teens who literally haven’t known a world without social media it only adds to the authenticity. What makes this all the more impressive is how every single like, message and scroll happening on Kayla’s beloved phone was shot practically and in real time. No CGI, no screen replacements, it’s this attention to detail you have to admire Burnham for.
In contrast to her online and school life, Kayla’s home life feels stiff as she’s intent to remain plugged into social media as much as possible, much to the dismay of single-parent dad (Josh Hamilton) who’s desperate to connect with his daughter and reassure her of how brilliant she is. However, Kayla’s severe lack of self esteem leaves room for her to believe that she’s not as great as he (and the audience) know she is. It’s these conflicting feelings that fuel their strained relationship and ignite clashes between the pair that, ultimately, resolves in a heartbreakingly honest conversation in one of the film’s most emotional moments.
Overall, there’s no big epic plot to Eighth Grade, at its core it’s simply a story about a teenager trying to navigate the various pitfalls of growing up and all the pain, awkwardness, and anxiety that comes with. It’s a piece of work that will simultaneously break and lift your heart up, you’ll laugh, cringe and shed some tears watching Kayla’s journey through the home stretch of middle school. Bo Burnham has successfully crafted something truly special with Eighth Grade, having not only captured all the turbulence of adolescence but specifically what it’s like as a self-conscious teenager in the age of social media right now.
