You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah – Movie Reviews by Ry!

You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah – Family, Boys and Drama: It’s a Teenage Thing

Growing up is a mixture of fun, excitement, and pain.  From childhood adventures to teenage antics, that ‘coming-of-age’ mantra is a natural thing.  No matter who you are, there is some relative meaning in seeing a tale of adolescence in film.  As the story unfolds (on the big screen), if that hearty moment is captured … it can be a genuinely great story.  In this review, I look at the latest Netflix original film.  A story that mixes culture and comedy, it is a unique spin to the coming-of-age genre.  Even with cheesy moments and familiar tropes, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah is a wholesome comedy of teenage strife and friendship. 

This is a story of teenage girls, friendship and dreaming of the best Bat Mitzvah.  Within the hopes of a great party comes unknown strife.  With the ultimate life test, Stacy (Sunny Sandler) and Lydia (Samantha Lorraine) will learn the truth in their bond.  On the surface, this coming-of-age tale is built off a mixture of drama and comedy (dramedy).  From the onset, the journey follows Stacy, as she wants to plan the best Bat Mitzvah in her Jewish community.  This becomes the main sticking point that creates a relative through line for the rest of the film.  As the tale showcases Stacy’s own personal roller coaster in planning this big party, she also must contend with issues of school cliques, boy crushes and emotional reverie.  Within these common archetypes, what creates that sincere touch is familial drama and friendship quarrels.  As the journey moves towards the end point (the big Bat Mitzvah), Stacy deals with father/daughter drama with Danny (Adam Sandler) and the fracturing friendship with Lydia.  The linear directive begins to build within characterization, creating a connection that showcases relativity to the real world.  For all the slapstick humor, family antics and teenage aloofness, the moments still feel wholesome.  That levity (to the journey) provides emotional depth to the trivial nature of teenage drama, giving that heart to the dramedy. 

Within, Stacy feels like her world is crashing down all around (boy issues, fractured friendships).  As she stands at a crossroads, her character growth continues to break away from the basic script.  Within each reflective moment, the sincerity of conversations provides a heartiness to the coming-of-age through line.  As truth comes to light, Stacy grows beyond circumstance to form a plan that will mend (all fences).  This leads into a third act of cheesy comedy, familial warmth, and a full circle motif.  As we come to that end point, it provides the journey with a poignant climax and epilogue.   You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah is a coming-of-age tale that does enough for a genuinely good time.  If you are a fan of Adam Sandler’s work, coming-of-age or family tales, this is one for you.  This is available on Netflix, but would have been fun to see on the big screen at the right price.

Full Score – 3 out of 5 (Theater Discount)