Directed by: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
Written by: Celeste Ballard & Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
Starring: Camila Mendes, Maya Hawke, Austin Abrams, Rish Shah, Talia Ryder, Ava Capri
Rating: [4/5]
If teen comedies have shown us one thing, it’s that high schoolers can be absolutely ruthless in the way they treat their fellow classmates. This appears, at times, to reach degrees that feel unbelievable but are undoubtedly true. Stories capturing this through a heightened lens such as Do Revenge always seem to hit the spot for me and we have no exception here as we dive into all the ridiculousness it has to offer.
On top of the high school hierarchy, Drea (Camila Mendes) has her world turned upside down when a lewd video of herself gets leaked and sent to the entire school. Convinced her boyfriend, Max (Austin Abrams) holds responsibility for this tragedy, she now finds herself on the outskirts where she meets new girl Eleanor (Maya Hawke). Together they decide to get revenge on those that have wronged them both.
High school comedies with plenty of style have the tendency of landing well with me, as they usually have this unbridled viciousness to them as characters who may not always handle their emotions well express themselves in not the healthiest ways. It allows for many fun sequences and Do Revenge comes chock-full of these moments as Drea and Eleanor take a Strangers on a Train approach to their pursuit of revenge. Seeing as these particular individuals ruined their lives, they have no qualms returning the favor in equal or even worse measure. The degree in which this revenge occurs well and truly crosses some boundaries I did not know this feature would touch, but that’s what makes this such a fun ride.
Drea, as our lead character, will undoubtedly cause conflicting feelings to those who watch this film given that she’s not the most likeable person the story has to offer. It comes as a cross between self-centeredness but also a well-earned place as someone who has worked hard to achieve the status she obtained within the school hierarchy. However, that comes with the reality that this abrasiveness can come across as harsh to others trying to befriend when she has this laser focus on receiving the satisfaction she seeks. This continually appears throughout many interactions she has with all the characters, especially Eleanor. Again, hard to fully blame her given the horrific thing done to her and ultimately it comes with the fun of what this comedy has to offer.
On the other hand, we have Eleanor, who comes onto the scene as someone brand new to the craziness of Rosehill Country Day High School and learns very quickly of the dynamics on display and what she will need to undertake in order to fulfill her end of the revenge plan with Drea. Through Eleanor we see the ridiculousness of this school and the characters who inhabit it from the over-the-top behavior of these male allies all the while they do the nonsense we see happen later in the film. The development of this character, in particular, truly elevates this film in my estimation as it goes in directions I did not guess as the narrative kept me guessing on the ulterior motives on display.
One cannot help but be charmed by the visual aesthetic of this feature. All of the colors in the school pop as it builds out this identity allowing for the over the top nature to feel wholly justified. No high school operates in this manner, but not much of this film seeks to sit in reality other than the real issues these characters battle both within and amongst their peers. This element remains critical to this specific type of high school comedy and Do Revenge fits beautifully well into the mold.
Camile Mendes and Maya Hawke do a splendid job in the lead roles of this feature as they each perfectly bring forth their characters. In a way, they ground the story even amongst all of the madness, but also set the stage for others to stand out in their own ways as well. Having Sarah Michelle Gellar as the Headmaster was truly a chef’s kiss and I am always happy to see Talia Ryder appear in more films given her stunning debut in Never Rarely Sometimes Always. Her stepping into this heightened high school comedy was a welcomed addition and she paired particularly well with Hawke.
Truly a grand ol’ time and marking each box in what one would want in a teen comedy, Do Revenge goes over the top in all of the best ways. It has its twists and turns that keeps you guessing while also creating quite the bond between Drea and Eleanor as they connect through their mutually held quest for revenge on those who have wronged them. This film comes with plenty of entertainment and delivered on all fronts as it joins the canon of high school comedies that bring this heightened and vicious style.
Films with Josh 
