Mike Males

Wow, did Eighth Grade ever make a fool of all the overwrought commentators and psychologists who hallucinated that it shows vast traumas to teenagers from social media use. In fact, nothing happens in this film. No one shoots up a school, jumps off a bridge, or posts a gang-rape video. It's mostly a collection of banal, harmless exchanges that end with the protagonist, Kayla, looking bemused. Yes, as in the life of anyone of any age not living under a rock, there are ups and downs, but not every unhappy moment that occurs in teenage life portends armageddon. Kayla's problems are mild, and social media and internet sites are beneficial to her growing up. In the film's denouement, Kayla announces the wise decision to stop posting her advice blog, since she doesn't have enough bad times to offer advice to those who have. Her insufferable dad tells her she's wonderful, empathic toward others' feelings, and nice (exact the opposite of how self-adoring adult critics depict middle schoolers), and high school friends call her "cool." Her school looks like a great place to be a quiet kid who's got a solid handle on life, and I hope the teenaged children of all the movie critics and psychologists who waxed terrified at the implications of this film will take mom and dad aside and reassure them: it's your older generation that's really the big problem!