Genuinely Entertained: Do Revenge Does It Right
Out on Netflix September 16, watching Do Revenge I felt warped back to 90s pop culture hits like, “She’s All That¨ and ¨10 Things I Hate About You.¨ Both bright, culturally dominating films that had the typical, teen trope of a bet or revenge plot that, ultimately, leads to its protagonists´ growth and new romantic partner. Do Revenge does the same, but adds a Gen Z brightness and cynicism that captivates what it is to find your identity in a world that can socially crush you by 12.
Maya Hawke plays Eleanor, and she is PHENOM! She steals the film with her unexpectedness, and her ability to be calculated and caring, all at once. She becomes an overall emblem for every person that felt silenced by their bully and really want to shut them up in every way. Yet, directed and written by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, Do Revenge is not just a bully versus nerd tale. In truth, it is a snarky and seething look into how we all, in many ways, can be bullies. Believe it or not, someone on there remembers your name as the one that caused them pain.
Camila Mendes´ Drea reminded me so much of the pressure to be Latina and, in turn, perfect. You have to represent and rise as an individual in every way your community has not, while maintaining an exemplar moral compass. The problem is, in this world, narcissists really do well. Egos become CEOs, and Drea´s clash between being a human being that gets emotional and even unhappy or becoming a walking billboard ad for handwork and scholarships is absolutely relatable. She wants to be powerful, but it seems in exchange of her being vulnerable, of which her bond with is the epicenter of this film.
What fascinated me most about Do Revenge is sentimental nuances between its leads and their bond. For one, by the end of this film, both characters have e very reason to hate each other, but yet they, in turn, use each other as mirrors. Reflections on how much of their inability to ¨fit into this world was their own cowardice and self-sabotage at becoming their truest selves. With a perfect cast that emotes the humanity and odd cruelty of being a teen, Do Revenge shows that forgiveness and redemption are necessary not for the people you think need it as much as for yourself. Letting go only leaves room for more to let in.
