You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah
By Jennifer Green,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Book-based coming-of-age tale has language, crude humor.
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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah
Community Reviews
Based on 6 parent reviews
Cute movie about growing up
Growing Up is Hard
What's the Story?
Life is good for tweens Stacy Friedman (Sunny Sandler) and best friend Lydia Rodriguez Katz (Samantha Lorraine) because this is the year they get to celebrate their much-anticipated Bat Mitzvahs in YOU ARE SO NOT INVITED TO MY BAT MITZVAH. They have long-gestating plans to help each other celebrate in as extravagant a manner as possible. But that's before the two start feeling tensions -- first, when Stacy senses Lydia gaining the attention of the popular kids, and then when Stacy sees Lydia kiss the boy she likes, Andy Goldfarb (Dylan Hoffman). This means revenge for Stacy, no matter the values her parents (Adam Sandler and Idina Menzel) and rabbi (Sarah Sherman) have tried to instill in her, nor the sager advice of big sis Ronnie (Sadie Sandler).
Is It Any Good?
This film has Judy Blume written all over it, but its main character lacks the genuine naivete that makes Blume's tween characters so lovable. Playing Stacy in You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, Sunny Sandler (Adam's daughter) wades into mean girl territory with her friends, poses and pouts for her male crush, and vamps in a sexy outfit for TikTok. It feels like a decidedly LA version of tweenhood. If you are only picking one tween girl flick this year, go with Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
That's not to say that Sunny doesn't play the character well, and it appears that all the Sandlers had a lot of fun making this movie. There are likely inside jokes galore here. Papa Sandler is in relax mode and lets his daughter take top billing, with family interactions feeling, well, pretty real. Same with the cameos and portrayals in the multigenerational Jewish community, though Sherman's performance as Rabbi Rebecca is more grating than great.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the preparation for and meaning behind a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, the event the main characters are planning for in You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah. What does the event signify in Jewish tradition? Where could you find more information?
Do you think both Stacy and Lydia made mistakes in their friendship, or was one guiltier than the other? Why?
This film stars actor Adam Sandler, his wife, and his two daughters. What do you think of that? How do you think the family connections contribute to the quality of the film, if at all?
If you've read the book, how does the movie differ?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: August 25, 2023
- Cast: Adam Sandler , Idina Menzel , Sunny Sandler
- Director: Sammi Cohen
- Inclusion Information: Female directors, Female actors, Female writers
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Book Characters , Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , Middle School
- Run time: 104 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: some crude/suggestive material, strong language and brief teen drinking
- Last updated: September 7, 2023
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