Wrings plenty of excitement from the escalating series of schemes executed by the titular brilliant student who finds herself helping her less intellectually gifted classmates to cheat on their exams (who are able to pay), culminating in making texting thrilling!
For most of the film I wasn't sure how I was supposed to feel, or how I actually felt, about Lynn - she's set up as the protagonist so naturally you root for her, but cheating is obviously bad, but then again there are suggestions that the deck of Thai society is so stacked against those, like Lynn, not born into wealth and privilege that maybe it's defensible to take financial advantage of her intellectual gifts? - and the film resolves that aspect interestingly, though not especially satisfyingly (particularly with the way things turn out for Bank, the other scholarship student at the school, who is drawn into the scheme).
Anyway, it's scripted and directed with some flair, including a pop verve and musical sensibility that adds a fair bit, and while the performances from the principals - Lynn and Bank, and rich kids Grace and Pat - are nothing extraordinary, they're charismatic enough to carry their (well-written) characters through. In the sweet spot, as I'd hoped, of being all of entertaining, something a bit different, and even a bit thought-provoking.
For most of the film I wasn't sure how I was supposed to feel, or how I actually felt, about Lynn - she's set up as the protagonist so naturally you root for her, but cheating is obviously bad, but then again there are suggestions that the deck of Thai society is so stacked against those, like Lynn, not born into wealth and privilege that maybe it's defensible to take financial advantage of her intellectual gifts? - and the film resolves that aspect interestingly, though not especially satisfyingly (particularly with the way things turn out for Bank, the other scholarship student at the school, who is drawn into the scheme).
Anyway, it's scripted and directed with some flair, including a pop verve and musical sensibility that adds a fair bit, and while the performances from the principals - Lynn and Bank, and rich kids Grace and Pat - are nothing extraordinary, they're charismatic enough to carry their (well-written) characters through. In the sweet spot, as I'd hoped, of being all of entertaining, something a bit different, and even a bit thought-provoking.
