‘The Re-Education Of Molly Singer’ Review – A Breezy, Fun But Forgettable Movie 

This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.

The introverted student who is shy but slowly opens up once people get to know them. Yes, there are many movies where introverts are the centre of attention, whether they want it or not. Your choices are unlimited, from Perks of Being a Wallflower to The Way Way Back and The Edge of Seventeen to No Hard Feelings. Director Andy Palmer (Justice for Vincent) now adds his own movie to that excellent list. While The Re-Education of Molly Singer feels forgettable, the film still provides laughter and fun.

Saying that Molly Singer (Britt Robertson) has led an exuberant life during college would be a massive understatement. Partying like there’s no tomorrow, hooking up with everything that moves and spending money like a millionaire. Yes, she did it all. It might have resulted in a great time but also in a post-college debt of $473,000. Despite being an attorney now, she just can’t leave her party days behind. However, waking up with one hell of a hangover is the least of Molly’s concerns now. She’s about to be fired from her job. That is, if she doesn’t take the ultimatum her feisty boss Brenda (Jaime Pressly) gives her.

Brenda’s socially awkward son, Elliot (Ty Simpkins), just started college, and to ensure that it’s a smooth ride, Brenda tasks Molly with taking Elliot under her wing. She must get him out of his shell to save her job. It sounds like an easy task for this party animal and social butterfly, but it’s everything but that. When Elliot becomes a viral meme, people’s little respect for him goes down the drain. Redoing his wardrobe and giving him a makeover is easy because Elliot is good-looking. However, restoring his image is another story. Molly genuinely befriends him, but what if Elliot discovers her intentions might not be as pure as he thought?

 

Apart from a few scenes, the feature fully takes place at Molly’s alma mater. Writers Todd M. Friedman (Collection) and Kevin Haskin (I Was Broken) allow her to re-live her former student life, and Palmer rolls with it. When watching The Re-Education of Molly Singer, it feels like you’re on an energetic campus with Molly and her best friend Ollie (Nico Santos), who helps her with her assignment. Sadly, it also feels routine. The movie is full of college cliches, stereotypical characters and narrative arcs you see coming miles away.

On top of that, there’s a much more emotional and grown-up storyline interwoven in this movie, which feels a bit out of place. It’s about Elliot dealing with immense grief, but because you see him spanking strippers in that same movie, you can’t take his emotions seriously. The odd tone balance makes this movie feel a bit unhinged at times.

This film doesn’t become too familiar or unbalanced because of the perfect comedic timing of Robertson (Dan in Real Life) and the wonderful supporting cast. Robertson’s bubbly and sassy acting shows again why this American actress’s future looks exceptionally bright. The actress is not afraid to put herself in awkward positions and perfectly portrays both a student living a carefree life and an adult having responsibilities. She’s also willing to share the spotlight with the other great actors, which isn’t always a given.

 

Co-stars Santos and Pressley get the chance to shine. Santos (Crazy Rich Asians) gives us a solid, hilarious performance as the funny but cliched sidekick. The camaraderie between Molly and Ollie feels authentic, thanks to the stunning on-screen chemistry between Robertson and Santos. Pressly’s acting reminds us a lot of the one in Beauty and the Briefcase as she again delivers a bad-ass and strong performance as the feisty, headstrong boss who, despite having to run a reputable company with an iron fist, is willing to give people a second chance, which might cost her her image.

The Re-Education of Molly Singer certainly could have been an over-the-top, raunchy movie about living a student life. Luckily, it never becomes that. Unlike in other movies, there’s no exaggeration regarding offensiveness or dirtiness. It may be cliched, but it is also a breezy film that provides the audience with wonderful acting performances, a straightforward storyline and some good laughs.

The Re-Education of Molly Singer is out in theaters and on digital/demand from the 29th of September courtesy of Lionsgate.