The "Harvard or Bust" satire
While the synopsis reads like a standard rom-com, the actual execution is closer to a heist movie where the vault is an Ivy League admissions office. The protagonist isn't your typical "girl next door" looking for love; she’s a Machiavellian senior who views her classmates as obstacles to be cleared. This sharper, slightly cynical edge is what earned it that 86% critic score. It’s less about the "will they, won't they" and more about the "how far will she go?"
If your teen is currently drowning in AP classes and extracurriculars, they’ll recognize the specific brand of desperation on screen. The movie works because it mocks the absurdity of the "perfect" resume while acknowledging how high the stakes feel when you’re seventeen. It’s a solid pick if you want something with more bite than the usual best teen movies to watch on Netflix, even if the third-act pivot into romance feels a bit more conventional than the setup.
The "Honor Society" Google trap
Here is the specific thing you’ll want to know after the credits roll: your kid is going to see ads or emails for real-life "Honor Societies" that look exactly like the ones in the movie. If they start searching for the film, they’ll inevitably hit sites like HonorSociety.org or NSHSS.
As the Reddit threads and reviews suggest, many of these are essentially pay-to-play organizations. They aren't "scams" in the sense that they don't exist, but they are often "money grabs" that charge membership fees for "exclusive" access to scholarships that are usually available elsewhere for free. Use the movie as a bridge to explain that a fancy certificate or a "stole" for graduation isn't a golden ticket to Harvard, no matter what the marketing says.
If your kid liked the "scheming" genre
This movie fits into a very specific niche of high school cinema: the ruthless overachiever. If they enjoyed the fast-talking, fourth-wall-breaking style of movies where the lead is technically the "villain" of their own story for a while, this will land well.
The friction comes from the protagonist’s lack of empathy. She spends a significant portion of the runtime actively trying to ruin the lives of her peers. While there’s a redemption arc, the "hero" is genuinely unlikeable for a long stretch. It’s a great litmus test for your teen’s media literacy: do they realize she’s being a monster, or are they taking notes on her tactics? If they can handle the satire, it’s one of the more rewarding teen comedies from the last few years. If they just want a sweet story about a first crush, this might feel a little too mean-spirited.