I was scrolling through YouTube and an edit for a movie I had never heard of came up. It captured my attention and ultimately led to me doing more research on the edit.
After further investigation, I discovered that Adam Sandler had recently produced a new movie, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah. The title alone caught my attention, but knowing that it was an Adam Sandler movie is what ultimately led to me viewing the film. I am a sucker for any Adam Sandler movie, so as soon as I saw that he was in this film, I knew I had to watch it.
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah—based on Fiona Rosenbloom’s novel of the same name— follows Stacy Friedman, who is eagerly anticipating her upcoming Bat Mitzvah. However, as the day approaches, she faces various challenges related to friendship, coming-of-age, and betrayal. Stacy grapples with the complexities of adolescence as she tries to balance her desire for popularity with staying true to her values and identity.
Netflix released the movie on Aug. 25, 2023. It was directed by Sammi Cohen, written by Alison Peck, and produced by Adam Sandler. The film features Sandler (playing Danny Friedman), sharing the screen with his wife, Jackie Sandler (playing Gabi Rodriguez Katz), and their daughters Sunny Sandler (playing Stacy Friedman) and Stacy Sandler (playing Ronnie, the older sister).
I had high expectations for this film as I tend to enjoy comedies, but I found this movie to be cringy and strange. I think that the movie had a lot of potential and could have easily been great, but the acting was subpar, and the script was poor.
It left me utterly disappointed and had me questioning my choice of movie night. This film felt more like a missed opportunity rather than a cinematic gem. The jokes fell flat, and the parts of the movie where you were supposed to laugh had me cringing instead. Sandler’s usually vibrant performances flounder, lacking the charm and wit we have come to expect.
The inclusion of Sandler’s family members had lots of potential to create good chemistry between the characters. Instead, it made it feel more like a home movie instead of a professionally crafted film.
Many talented actors were included in the film, including Samantha Lorraine, Idina Menzel, and Luis Guzmán. Despite their talents, their performances, along with the script, failed to breathe life into the uninspired plot.
The main character, Stacy, annoyed me immensely, and I disliked every scene that she was in. She was very unlikeable, and many of the things she said and did gave me severe second-hand embarrassment.
You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah is a regrettable addition to the coming-of-age genre on Netflix. The film not only missed the mark but also left me questioning why such a talented cast and crew would attach themselves to a project that fails to capture the essence of the novel.
The plot lacks originality, the humor falls flat, and emotional depth is lacking. Ultimately, the movie fails to deliver a memorable plot and experience, leaving viewers with a sense of disappointment after watching a movie that had high expectations.
