Movie Review: Sierra Burgess is a Loser

Netflix is continuing with their Romantic Comedy streak with the highly anticipated “Sierra Burgess is a Loser” everyone has been counting down the days for it’s release thanks in part to Noah Centineo, who is the current internet obsession after starring opposite Lana Condor in the runaway hit “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” -also a Netflix Romantic Comedy. 
 
I think audiences are also eager to see Sarah Purser take on a lead role, after being killed off in the first season of “Stranger Things” she became a fan favorite despite her short screen time. There were even petitions to #BringBarbBack. She also currently plays Ethel in “Riverdale” but in this version she doesn’t get Jughead (in case you didn’t know, in the comics, it’s Ethel and Jughead) and just becomes a supporting character. 
 
With all of these Netflix shows under her belt, it was only a matter of time before Sarah would get the spotlight and her much anticipated take on a lead role in a romantic comedy does not dissapoint and could even be a precedent to more non traditional casting for lead roles. 

 
In the film, Purser plays Sierra Burger, a senior in High School working her way to getting into Stanford for College by “resume padding” and if that means doing community service and trying out for the boys track team (for that “wow” College application). Despite her average looks and body figure, Sierra is pretty confident as to who she is as a person. She brushes off jocks who bump into her in the hall and corrects mean girl Veronica (Kristine Froseth) when she calls her ‘Frodo’. 
 
“You mean, Quasimodo” Sierra says and she is not bothered at all. 
 
It is mean, popular, pretty girl Veronica who sets things in motion when she gives Sierra’s number to Jamey (Noah Centineo) who is a quarterback for their rival school. 
 
So when Jamey texts Veronica it goes to Sierra and while he thinks that he is texting with Veronica, it is actually Sierra on the other side of the screen. Of course Sierra can’t bring herself to tell Jamey the truth, especially when he sends her a couple of selfies and you know, he’s really smart and funny and the two of them are really hitting it of. 
 
“Isn’t that catfishing? I’m pretty sure it’s illegal.” Sierra’s best friend Dan (RJ Cyler from Saban’s “Power Rangers”) says. Despite the very reasonable warning, Sierra continues the ruse, eventually stringing Veronica along, in exchange of Sierra tutoring the mean girl so she can get back at her College ex, who called her dumb. I would have personally wanted Veronica to have gotten a “I’m more than just a pretty face moment and really shove it in Spencer’s face. 
 
So while Sierra tutors “Ronnie”, they continue to catfish Jayme, with Veronica being the face and Sierra being the voice of the relationship. In the course of time, the Ice Queen and Miss Popular facade of Veronica crumbles away as Sierra sees her troubled family and eventually the two girls become friends.  
 
While getting away with FaceTime can be easy, what happens when Jamey asks for a real date? Someone is bound to get hurt. Will this trio make it out in one piece? Teenage romance and social pressure can just be too much sometimes. 

 
As I was watching I was worried about two things, first was how were they going to reconcile the “looks and social class above everything” mindset, what with society being obsessed with looks, which is only enhanced by social media (no. of followers, no. of likes, selfies) but a surprise twist towards what would have been a predictable plot is a welcome curve ball. Second, a poetry assignment to be read out loud in class. I was worried it was going to be very “10 Things I Hate About You” -thankfully that didn’t happen. (That scene is only for Julia Stiles!!!) what we have instead is another sweet surprise I won’t spoil. 
 
Purser is perfect for the role and is lighted in such a raw and natural way, with hardly any make up on, her freckles all out. Dressing her in unflattering clothes and there isn’t even a make over scene! Just a “plucking the eyebrows” bit. Which just just goes to show how the film challenges character stereotypes and teen rom-com troupes. Centineo’s Jamey is a quarterback who is obsessed with Astronomy and loves his younger deaf brother (cue ovaries exploding). Veronica is the mean girl who turns out to be just understood and I was really glad they spent time on her character too and we see a growth in her. 
 
Minus points for not having the text conversations on the screen, especially for someone with bad eyesight as me, all we see as a conversation between Jamey and Sierra are funny animal pictures.
 
Netflix delivers on its promise for that slumber party “kilig” movie but also gives some talking points and reflection here and there, you know just in case you guys want to talk about it. Or we just enjoy Noah Centineo’s shirtless selfies. 
 
(7.5/10) now streaming on Netflix.