Senior Year - A Netflix Movie Review

You’ve been in a coma for 20 years. You think that’s going to make you prom queen?

Senior Year woke up on Netflix in 2022. After a cheerleading stunt that went wrong, Stephanie wakes up in the hospital after spending 20 years in a coma. 37-year-old Stephanie chooses to return to high school, not only to complete her senior year but to win prom queen.

I was really debating on whether I should watch Senior Year or let it slide under my radar. Deciding to watch it and even shutting it off after an hour to continue another time, in the end, Senior Year is a resonating film about one’s time in high school. However, the film’s main downfall is that it runs on too much nostalgia and forced jokes.

Rebel Wilson has always been a mixed bag for me. Typically, she plays the same person in each film. Drifting between her usual standup routine and her character, I was impressed with Wilson’s serious moments. We needed more of this. I wanted to see Wilson play her character because there was a lot of potential that didn’t come through.

Stephanie has always believed that popularity is what life is all about. After spending 20 years in a coma, Stephanie has more to learn. Wilson should have spent more time connecting to her character because she is a complex character. We have all wanted to be popular in school which is relatable.

You never know how people will change after 20 years. Ever since Happiest Season, Mary Holland has become popular. I enjoyed her role as the principal. Sometimes flustered, she is trying to keep things together during the final month of school. Holland and Wilson shared a heartwarming scene.

More credits include Same Richardson, Zoe Chao, Jade Bender, Chris Parnell, and so many more. IT fans will recognize Jeremy Ray Taylor. And Alicia Silverstone has a memorable part. Anjourie Rice was excellent as younger Stephanie. No part is ever small. The cast was the best part of Senior Year.

Senior Year, or specifically Rebel Wilson, ran too much on forced comedy and nostalgic energy. We get that the world has changed in 20 years, but filmmakers didn’t have to keep reminding us in every scene. It should have delved closer into the story. It also wasn’t realistic at times but then again, the film wanted to be what it was.

Some jokes made me laugh a bit while others were just forced. In the long run, Senior Year didn’t present anything new. It had so many layers like Stephenie reconnecting with her friends, her relationship with her mother, and even how she felt about herself. I wanted more scenes that involved Stephanie and her dad.

Senior Year missed a mark. There were too many of the usual high school film cliches. I had more fun watching the second half. It lacked originality in the first half.

Let’s talk about the message of the film. Alex Hardcastle adapted a heartwarming message that doesn’t just touch high schoolers. Who you were in high school doesn’t represent your future.

That really made me think. We all have different experiences in high school, whether good or bad. Make the best of it, move on, and throw away all the mean things anybody said to you. It doesn’t matter.

If you’re having second thoughts about it, I recommend that you go watch Senior Year on Netflix. It could have focused better on its story, but it's the moral that’s worth experiencing. Find it on Netflix for your next Friday night.