Skip to main content

Script My Life: The Kissing Booth

With a show of the hands, how many of you have ended up with your crush? I guess I will see in the comments section below.


Reminiscing about the complex, simplicity of high school is funny. When you are a teenager,  your whole life seems to be captured in that time capsule. It seems like an eternity before the reality of growing up hits you.

As a grown woman, I still indulge in a high school movie or two. I love how cliché and generic the storylines are. Yet they somewhat relate to what a teen is going through or what I related to, once upon a time.

I still love the lessons about being true to yourself à la 'Mean Girls', '10 Things I Hate About You' and most recent, 'Reality High'. Y'all high school is hard! I'm not sure what it's like now with social media and cellphones. Back in my day, bullying was physical, rejection was real and your crush wrote a note, or letter to reciprocate your feelings.

Funny story, I'm still 'sort of' friends with my high school crush. I actually thought of him whilst watching the Netflix teen rom-com, 'The Kissing Booth.' Before I get into the critics ratings, on a scale of 1 to 10, I give the movie a  5. The rating comes with the copy and pasting of all the high school movies you can remember.

When I related the movie to my life, that wondering thought kind of lingered, "What if I had actually dated my crush?"

I get the concept of the plot line, however, the execution of the story failed dismally. Yet, somehow this movie was viewed so much, a sequel is coming. Eish! Released in 2018, 'The Kissing Booth' stars Joey King who plays the female protagonist. Her male co-stars are Joel Courtney and Jacob Elordi. The film also features former teen rom-com queen, Molly Ringwald. Her most famous roles are in 'Sixteen Candles' and 'The Breakfast Club' (but you will need to be an 80s fan to know these).

To break down the plot quickly, Joey King plays the role of Elle Evans. Elle is best friends with Lee Flynn (Courtney), whom she shares the same birthday with. Elle has had a huge crush on Lee's, hot, older brother Noah (Elordi). However, due to a set of friendship rules, Elle can't date Noah.

Throughout the first hour, we see the typical love-hate relationship between Noah and Elle, as they try to get together. The two hook up secretly before being found out by Lee, much to Lee's distaste. Lee breaks off his friendship with Elle because of Noah. Elle breaks up with Noah because of her friendship with Lee. Lee and Elle make up after dancing together at Dance Dance Revolution.

At their prom, the theme pays homage to the 'kissing booth'. This was Elle and Lee's, idea for the school carnival. Apparently, it was a hit with the rest of the student body. Noah publicly proclaims his love for Elle,who rejects him and runs away. Elle finally stands up for herself at her costume themed birthday party. She let's Lee know that she's in love with Noah and will cut him off if he's not supportive. Lee, who has a girlfriend, acknowledges Elle's feelings, however, Noah has already left for Havard.

Elle does kiss and make up with Noah in the end. The final scene shows the airport farewell and Elle rides off into the sunset on Noah's motor bike.

The critics reviewed this as the worst teen movie ever. I will spare you the details. 'The Kissing Booth' had potential to be a good movie, but lack of character development killed the plot. Little rational is given as to why the characters behave the way that they do. I didn't understand why Elle's dad strongly disapproved of Noah? Why Noah is always punching people? And this started when he was little. Call me old school, but I still feel uncomfortable with teen sex on screen. I don't believe that it should be encouraged. Elle is sixteen. Let's leave it there.

To add to the review, the lessons were rather vague. What life lesson is a teenager, or any viewer getting from this movie? Okay, so Elle hooks up with her crush, Noah. Noah actually liked her back to the point that he blocked all the other guys in school from dating her. Erm, a little bit controlling.

It's rare for an individual with the crush to have a relationship with their crush from the get go. The story line in most teen movies is that the admirer spends lots of time with their crush. The crush then realises that their admirer is the best person that they need.

Elle and Noah have a mutual attraction towards each other. They have a relationship and fall in love. For purposes of film making, the conflict comes in the twisted 'love triangle' with Lee. From my own experience, that plot line didn't work out like that.

In the last part of eleventh grade, (form four), I admitted to my crush that I liked him. This occurred after a game of truth-or-dare, where my hostel mate dared me to confront my crush. I walked to him with Samantha Mumba's 'Gotta Tell You', playing in my head. (Laughs) After admitting my feelings, I just wanted the ground to open and swallow me whole. My crush shared a sentiment that he 'sort of', 'kind of' liked me too, but he was seeing someone else. That doesn’t look like a familiar teen rom-com scene from anywhere.

I was hurt. (Holds face)

Sixteen years later, I just thought to myself, what if the script was flipped? After sharing a kiss with Noah at the kissing booth, Elle kisses him again. Her bold move, prompted Noah to reveal his intentions with her. What if I had been bold like Elle? Instead of writing poetry about my crush, I should have been strategic about prompting my crush to reciprocate the crush. Oh well! (Shrugs shoulders).

I have never had a Lee in my ĺife, so rule number 9, doesn't apply to me. I never listen to my friends anyway! I will have that forbidden relationship, have my heart broken and then go like, "Y'all were right, he's a total douche!" In real life though, Noah wouldn't be my choice. His temper and controlling nature would put me off. Yes, I liked bad boys, (who doesn't), but not that bad. Honestly, I wouldn't have Lee as my bff either. Are you making me choose between friendship and love? We swerve a controlling and selfish friend. Ain't nobody got time for that!

As terrible as 'The Kissing Booth' is, the crush-admirer plot twist was refreshing. It doesn't take forever for the two to get together. They spend time together as couples should. As Elle bids farewell to Noah who's off to university, she acknowledges the uncertainty in the couple's future. However, she is grateful for the experience.

I guess that's the answer to that lingering question, "What if I had actually dated my crush?" It would have been an experience whether good, or bad. But I guess that, I will never know! (Shrugs shoulders)

Hopefully the sequel to 'The Kissing Booth' will be insightful. The writers must only 'copy+paste' at least one teen movie. I suggest 'The Duff'! That had an empowering life lesson. And please, we need back stories to explain behaviours and conflicts. Plus, Elle, must not narrate so much...or at all! We get it! She talks too much!

Until the next flick...you are the writer, cast and director of your own plot!

P.S. Always write your own love story!

Ciao!

Lady E



Comments

Popular Posts

Single ladies: Wife material

MPV.....my point of view! Single Ladies: Wifen Material *Royal wave*Hey single ladies,your guide is back.The pursuit for Mr Put-A-Ring-On-It is on.Today I would like to make you a get-a-ring-on-it lady. Now following my articles,'Single Ladies Part 3',where I talked about the prince searching for a 'real princess',or 'Queen';and 'Brown Sugar',where the word 'brown sugar' was defined as wifen material,I would like to talk about 'wifey material'.(Whether we are that). How do we single ladies get that ring-on-it,you ask?By being wifey material.My uncle keeps on telling me,'If you want to become Mrs X,you should be a wife.You are a wife before he puts a ring on it'.What he means is that,a man will treat you the way you portray yourself.How,you ask? Ever noticed the difference between a wife and a girlfriend.Now let me break it down for you.A girlfriend usually,takes life in a more leisurely way;unlike a wife,whose focus is mo...

Script My Life: Marry Me

If you want something different, you have to do something different! Woo, Jennifer Lopez really grated the cheese on this rom-com but I love it! Yes, this Valentines day, J Lo reminds us of all our fantasies of what really love should be. Jenny has always been a girl who loves love. So art somewhat imitates life. Following her reunion with former fiancé, Ben Affleck, we are definitely seeing Jenny from the Block 2.0. Who knew that getting back together with 'the one that got away' two decades later would revive romantically in J lo? We all know that Jennifer loves to be booed up. She's been married three times, engaged five or six (I've lost count). I believe relationship experts would consider her a love addict. But that's none of our business! Just in time for Valentines day, a romantic comedy simply titled, "Marry Me". The stars Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Maluma, John Bradley, Sarah Silverman, and Chloe Coleman. The movie opens with the title trac...

Script My Life: Bad Hair

My relationship with hair extensions will never be the same! It's spooky season and what a time for all things that make your stomach churn, and eyes pop! For most of this series, I review romantic comedies and dramas. The big screen allows me to live vicariously through stories and characters. I can escape my mundane life and all the imperfections in between. I can be anything that I want, through whichever character that I relate to. Funny enough I love horror and thrillers! I love the adrenalin rush of frightening encounters with the paranormal, or mentally unhinged. Most horrors or thrillers often follow a generic pattern, however there those that take the cup for scares. I will never watch 'The Exorcist' and 'The Nun' again! Apart from being scary, I am not playing with all that supernatural stuff. And here we are, watching Hulu's new flick, 'Bad Hair'. Ever since the trailer, I have been religiously following the interviews. In one interview, the f...

The Case of the Ghost

If you decide to ghost, then stay dead! I'm riled up and thinking WTF? Who the hell does he think he is? Trying to walk out of the tomb like the Messiah! Degage! But I also realised that I wasn't over it. IT! The hurt and humiliation of being ghosted. The humiliation of being relegated to  side  chick.  And the pain of going through loss alone. Who the hell does he think he is ... in my life? After many years, I bumped into him at a recent event. Actually, he called out my name and followed me. I don't know why he thought that he and I were Gucci. For two years, that guy was a poltergeist.He didn't reach out to me to explain his behaviour. He didn't send me a birthday message. No communication. Obviously, out of sight, out of mind.And then he has the nerve to call out my full government name. Honestly, I was inebriated and had no time for his nonsense. But he started saying that he and I needed to talk. He thought that I was his girl. He missed me. I'm literally...

Are You Friend Zoning Your Soulmate?

Your perfect match could be right under your nose! And then Colby O'donis' 'Under My Nose' starts playing. As the lyrics play, I can't help reflect on a recent experience that has me wondering - could he be right under my nose, and I've been too blind to see? Bonjour mes amies! Comment allez-vous? Ça va! Bring your wine glasses with you and let's have a chat. So, I've been doing some serious self-reflection after our last discussion. There's a lot of unpacking required  and I really need to let go, so that I heal. Healing leads to new beginnings. And hopefully, happy endings - metaphorically that is. We all know the friendzone - that comfortable space where we stash away people we care about but don't see as romantic partners. But could our so-called 'friends' actually be meant for more?  Lately I've been reflecting on a close acquaintance of mine whom I've realized I may have been unintentionally 'friendzoning.' We'v...