If You Loved Jimmy Olsen in ‘Superman,’ You Need To Watch ‘Booksmart’

Have you considered wearing a shirt with Skyler Gisondo‘s face on it after seeing his hilarious performance as Jimmy Olsen in James Gunn’s Superman? Well, you would not be the first. Skyler Gisondo has been wearing a shirt with his own face on it for years. Specifically, in his breakout role as Jared in 2019’s Booksmart. Directed by Olivia Wilde, Booksmart is a coming-of-age film that completely took audiences by surprise upon release, quickly being dubbed a “female Superbad” with its biting wit, unflinching raunchiness, and all-star comedic cast that includes names like Beanie Feldstein, Will Forte, Lisa Kudrow, and of course, future Mr. Jimmy Olsen.

Here’s why you should revisit Booksmart, one of the best comedies of the 21st century (especially if you need your Gisondo fix).

What Is ‘Booksmart’ About?

United Artists Releasing

Booksmart follows two aggressively academic and feminist best friends, Amy (Kaityn Denver) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein). About to graduate from high school, Amy and Molly feel a sense of entitlement towards the fact that they studied and got into great colleges, unlike their peers who partied and slacked off. However, they soon discover, to their horror, that all those kids who partied also got into great colleges. The popular kids had fun and now have promising futures. They did both. Thus, Amy and Molly resolve to be losers no more. They have one more night to be people who partied in high school, and lucky for them, there is a huge party being thrown. All they need to do is find the address. Of course, hijinks ensue.

There are a few elements that elevate Booksmart above other similar comedies of its time. For one, the supporting cast is absolutely stacked. You’ve got your comedy legends, like Jason Sudeikis, Jessica Williams, Mike O’ Brien, and even Maya Rudolph in a cameo role. Then, there is a bevy of upcoming talent that all seems to converge in Booksmart in a perfect storm of talent right before their careers really took off: Molly Gordon, Noah Galvin, Nico Hiraga, Mason Gooding, Diana Silvers, Eduardo Franco, and Billie Lourd all shine.

Beyond its cast, Booksmart is a genuinely hilarious piece of writing that captures Gen Z and the late 2010s to a tee. It plays with ideas like performative wokeness, female friendship, and queer-identity satirically but never in a way that actually feels like it’s making fun of its characters. Booksmart underperformed at the box office, meaning that it took some time for it to show up on people’s radars. Once it did, however, it was heavily lauded. Quickly, viewers recognized how singularly funny and resonant it was, both qualities that have been incredibly difficult to find in modern comedies. It currently has a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Skyler Gisondo as the Iconic “Jared”

Skyler Gisondo wearing a tshirt with his face on it in Booksmart — United Artists Releasing

If for no other reason, you should watch Booksmart to see the most Jimmy Olsen-esque performance Skyler Gisondo has ever given (second only to Jimmy Olsen in Superman). Gisondo’s character in Booksmart is an over-confident, rich, yet endearing nerd named Jared who dresses far too much like a rapper for a high school boy. He has a crush on Molly, who will not give him the time of day. In fact, pretty much no one will give him the time of day (except for his imbalanced best friend, Gigi, played by the hysterical Lourd).

Jared attempts to buy the friendship of his classmates with gifts and parties, but it never really takes. One such gift is the aforementioned custom T-shirt with his face on it that he hands out as “a last day of school present,” something that has become iconic in real life and that fans of the movie frequently buy replicas of online.

As the story progresses and Amy and Molly team up with Jared to get to the big party, we learn that there is more to him than meets the eye. Notably, he one day wants to build airplanes and invest in new musicals (“enough with the revivals!”). Gisondo brings undeniable charm to the character, and it has clearly stuck with them over the years (why else would they buy shirts). While Gisondo has had a storied career as an actor that began as a child way back in 2003, Booksmart arguably marked Gisondo’s emergence onto the scene as a niche sort of comedic heartthrob. Thank heavens for that, and thank heavens for all of Booksmart.

Booksmart is now available to rent on Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play.