Kidzworld checked out Before I Fall based on the novel by Lauren Oliver. Is it awesome and relatable? Should it be a date night or BFF must? Check our review.
By: Lynn Barker
In Before I Fall, Samantha Kingston (Zoey Deutch) is a mean girl. She and her besties Lindsay (Halston Sage), Elody (Medalion Rahimi) and Ally (Cynthy Wu) are seniors who rule their school. They are actually likeable until you realize that they are cruel and sort of clueless about it. After a car crash, Sam keeps waking up and reliving that last day. Is she in hell, a weird heaven or is this just high school?
Strike a pose!Courtesy of Open Road Films
Last Day
In the Pacific Northwest, high school senior Samantha Kingston wakes up. It’s Cupid Day at school and all the popular kids get roses from admirers. Sam ignores her family and rides to school with her all-girl posse. She is supposed to sleep with her boyfriend Rob (Kian Lawley) for the first time after a party that night thrown by nerdy but sweet Kent McFuller (Logan Miller) who has had a lifetime crush on Sam.
Rob and JulietCourtesy of Open Road Films
At School
The clique of girls makes fun of Juliet (Elena Kamporous), a wild-haired girl nobody likes and Anna (Liv Hewston) who is gay. Sam gets a rose from the mega-popular Rob but with an unromantic note. She gets a beautiful rose from Kent but it’s “anonymous”. She ignores it and him.
Selfies and bondingCourtesy of Open Road Films
Party
At Kent’s party, the clique is snooty to all and Sam is freaked that Rob is already blasted drunk when she arrives. Not her idea of romance. Juliet arrives alone, calls the girls bitches, especially Lindsay whom she was once childhood friends with. Lindsay throws a drink on her and soon others join in. Mortified, Juliet runs from the party in tears. It’s a mess. The girls leave. On the way home they have a wreck.
Best pal Lindsay kisses bestie SamanthaCourtesy of Open Road Films
Déjà Vu…Over and Over
Like in the movie Groundhog Day, Sam wakes up and it’s the same day. At first she thinks she’s had a horrible nightmare. As her day goes on, she makes a few different choices but not much changes. As Sam gradually realizes that she needs to make big changes in her life and treat people differently to get out of this hell-loop, she affects others and finds she might be becoming the best version of herself. What personal secrets will be revealed? How will it all end….or will it?
Samantha realizes she really likes nerdy KentCourtesy of Open Road Films
Wrapping Up
One of the best things about Before I Fall is its relatability; you will see yourself in at least one of the characters…that and the great acting talents of Zoey Deutch (Hey, remember the Back to the Future movies? Lead actress Lea Thompson is Zoey’s mom!). She has to play the same character as she gradually changes from mean girl to freaked, fearful teen then move to final acceptance and serenity. She is backed up by other really competent young supporting actors but it’s her story and she nails it.
Samantha and her mean girl posseCourtesy of Open Road Films
Watching Samantha go through the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining with God, depression and acceptance) as she relives her last day over and over is heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. We could all benefit from the “lessons” in the film like how you behave in the world each day matters, what we do effects more than we think, be your authentic self, treat people as you would like to be treated, etc. None of these messages is delivered at the expense of the story and characters, however.
Samantha (Zoey Deutch) realizes she must make changesCourtesy of Open Road Films
People tell me the film is quite like the book with a few exceptions so readers shouldn’t be disappointed. There are some clichés of course (the mean girl bullies, the big-hearted nerd, the “freaks” etc.) but high school is full of them. Yes, it’s a Groundhog Day plot but without the comedy and played with heart by the wonderful Zoey Deutch. This gal is going places. We go four stars.
Before I Fall Movie Rating: 
Before I Fall Movie PosterCourtesy of Open Road Films
Before I Fall is in theaters now!
Have Your Say
Did you read the novel by Lauren Oilver? Do you think you are bulled in school or are you actually the bully? Lay down your latest thoughts below.
