In mid-August, the comedy film You’re Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah!, starring not only actor Adam Sandler, but also part of his family: Sunny, Adam, Sadie and Jackie Sandler, his daughters and wife.
In the plot, we follow Stacy and Lydia, two best friends who have always dreamed of having epic bat mitzvahs – in Judaism, the ceremony officially inserts the young person as a mature member of the Jewish community.
The preparations, however, start to go wrong when they both start to like the same boy. With the love triangle, not only the rite of passage, but also the friendship of the two girls hangs in the balance.
Since its debut, the film has caught the attention of Netflix subscribers and even topped the ranking of the platform’s most watched productions for several days. Still don’t know if Adam Sandler’s new film is worth watching? So check it out below three reasons to watch You’re Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah!
3. Representation of Jewish culture
If you, like me, are new to Judaism, this film will shed some light on this culture in a simple and modern way – showing communal, family and religious aspects of Jewish culture. During the film, we frequently see scenes that take place in Hebrew school, as well as several moments in which Stacy practices Torah verses for her Bat Mitzvah.
In an interview, director Sammi Cohen celebrated the film’s release to the Jewish community. “We want to tell a Jewish coming-of-age story that explores formative female friendships and self-discovery in a real, messy, and authentic way. Learning about who you are in the world and who you want to be is a very Jewish experience. It’s also a universal experience. I’m excited to make this community feel seen and celebrated.”
2. Adam Sandler’s highest-rated film
With almost 30 years of career in cinema, Adam Sandler has a vast CV and is known for being one of the main names in slapstick comedy films. In recent years, however, he has starred in some critically praised productions, such as Joias Raras and Arremessando Alto. With You’re Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, the actor achieved the highest rated rating for a film so far on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 96% approval rating on the review aggregator site.
“A coming-of-age comedy that avoids simple nostalgia, You’re Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah finds new humor in teenage angst — and hints at a bright future for star Sunny Sandler,” says the critical consensus on Rotten Tomatoes.
Reproduction/Netflix
1. The ups and downs of pre-adolescence
Although the film revolves around Bat Mitzvah traditions, the plot is, in fact, a portrait of the ups and downs of the life of a pre-teen girl, who needs to face the arrival of adulthood, according to her religion, while facing several reflections on friendship and maturity.
The difference with You’re Not Invited to my Bat Mitzvah is that the film portrays in the most honest way possible the dilemmas faced by young girls today – and here it’s worth highlighting that the script manages to adapt the story very well to the context of 2023 (with little dances from TikTok, pop artist references and neutral language).
You’re Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah is available for streaming on Netflix.
