High School Dreams Collide With Lessons in Self-Worth

Read Time:5 Minute, 20 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Almost Popular
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Genre: Comedy, Drama, Teen, Coming-of-age
Year Released: 2025
Runtime: 1h 35m
Director(s): Nayip Anthony Garcia
Writer(s): Pamela Duffy-Little, Eleni Rivera
Cast: Ruby Rose Turner, Reid Miller, Isabella Ferreira, Ellodee Carpenter, Arden Myrin, Kathleen Rose Perkins, Elijah M. Cooper, Avi Angel, Victoria Caro, Sharlize True, Sarah Dorothy Little, Sir Cornwell, Tahani Anderson, Brooklyn Queen, Owen Morgan, Connor Finnerty
Where to Watch: in select theaters August 28, 2025

RAVING REVIEW: High school movies never truly go out of style; they simply reflect the anxieties and experiences of each generation. ALMOST POPULAR joins that lineage with a familiar setup—a pair of misfit best friends chasing the approval of the cool kids—but it spins that story with a blend of modern social media, heartfelt friendship, and a clear love for the teen comedies of the ’90s and 2000s. Director Nayip Anthony Garcia makes his feature debut with something that manages to be both broad and unique, balancing humiliation with a sincere message about self-worth.

The film follows Susie (Ruby Rose Turner) and Bobbie (Reid Miller), lifelong best friends determined to escape the dull grind of invisibility at their high school. Their goal is to join the elite, cool-kid group, and as such, be part of the reigning clique that dictates trends and social status. What begins as a series of ambitious reinventions quickly devolves into a string of failures, humiliations, and awkward confrontations. Yet beneath it all, the film finds a beating heart in the bond between Susie and Bobbie, one that gives weight to what could have been a purely formulaic by-the-numbers teen comedy.

Turner and Miller shine as the central duo. Turner, already a Disney alum with a strong social media presence, gives Susie a mix of insecurity and determination that makes her relatable even when her choices are misguided. Miller brings warmth and nuance to Bobbie, whose quieter struggle with identity adds depth to the otherwise comedic tone. The decision to present him as a closeted LGBTQIA2S+ character without making it the film’s main storyline reflects a welcome subtlety, allowing representation to exist within the story without forcing it into melodrama. Even as the current administration in the US tries to make it illegal for that community to exist, films like this help to normalize their stories into our mainstream.

Isabella Ferreira, playing Renee, and Ellodee Carpenter as Vicki, embody different shades of the popular kids. Ferreira surprises with a character who evolves from surface-level arrogance to something more layered. At the same time, Carpenter leans into the exaggerated energy of a queen bee whose power lies in manipulation—supporting performances from Arden Myrin and Kathleen Rose Perkins as overbearing mothers add an extra comic sting, reminding audiences that sometimes the pressure to fit in doesn’t stop after high school.

Garcia’s direction is infused with the playful energy of his background in music videos, bringing stylized flourishes that elevate familiar teen-movie scenarios. Quick cuts, heightened color palettes, and exaggerated montages give the film an almost satirical quality, as though it’s fully aware of the clichés it’s playing with. At the same time, the script by Pamela Duffy-Little and Eleni Rivera refuses to reduce its leads to caricatures, instead grounding their antics in recognizable insecurities. That balancing act is what helps ALMOST POPULAR stand out: it laughs at its characters, but never at the expense of empathy.

The film’s themes—friendship, authenticity, the futility of chasing popularity—are timeless. Yet Garcia updates them for today’s audiences by layering in the impact of social media, influencer culture, and the way teenagers broadcast their identities online. These elements feel organic rather than shoehorned in, and they help the film resonate with younger viewers while still appealing to anyone who remembers the sting of cafeteria politics. When Susie and Bobbie stumble through their attempted reinvention—whether through fashion misfires or misguided TikTok stunts—the comedy lands because it feels both exaggerated and oddly familiar.

The predictability of the third arc, where the characters inevitably realize that true friendship is more valuable than popularity, isn’t groundbreaking. Yet even in its most conventional beats, the film’s energy and cast chemistry keep it engaging. This is a film that embraces being broad but doesn’t let that erase its sincerity.

The soundtrack taps into nostalgic needle-drops alongside modern pop, another nod to its dual audience of teens and adults who grew up on John Hughes and MEAN GIRLS. That appeal is perhaps ALMOST POPULAR’s greatest strength: it knows it’s not reinventing the genre, but it delivers with enough charm to win over skeptics.

ALMOST POPULAR may not reach the iconic heights of the teen comedies it lovingly references, but it doesn’t need to. It succeeds as a breezy, entertaining piece of storytelling that captures the awkward, painful, and ultimately rewarding process of figuring out who you are amidst the chaos of high school. Fun, flawed, and surprisingly touching, it lands right where it aims: almost popular, and that’s enough.

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[photo courtesy of PATRIOT RELEASING, ETHOS PICTURES]

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