BAD GENIUS (2024) - Mark Reviews Movies

Bad Genius, Vertical

Follow on Facebook | Follow on Twitter | Become a Patron

Review by Mark Dujsik | October 10, 2024

The original film became quite the hit in its native Thailand when it was released in 2017, extending that popularity internationally with festival appearances and by being added to assorted streaming services. The eventual existence of Bad Genius, the American remake with the same title as its forebear was known throughout the world, was more or less a certainty, then. The original's story was too clever, while it also could basically be transferred anywhere, for it to go untouched by filmmakers elsewhere.

That story is still broadly exciting in co-writer/director J.C. Lee's remake, which transplants most of the school-based action to Seattle and adds some pointed observations about class distinctions. Those were a key component of the 2017 film, of course, as a financially struggling student finds a way to make easy money by helping her wealthy classmates cheat at multiple-choice tests. However, anyone who knows the original film also knows that most of those concerns were dismissed by the finale in favor of a simple resolution that offered a straightforward moral to its tale. Lee and co-screenwriter Julius Onah clearly didn't think that sit right.

The reconfigured ending is, though, the only obvious improvement in the remake, which coasts on the ingenuity of the original's screenplay, hopes the momentum of the thriller-like plotting will carry over, and shortchanges its main characters a bit too much in the adaptation process. It might do in a pinch for those who can't access the original film or with an aversion to subtitles (something one should rid oneself of as quickly as possible, of course), but on its own, Lee's version feels rushed and as if it possesses a few too many gaps in its characterizations to succeed.

The premise still remains strong, though, while the performances get at the varieties and hues of desperation that drive these characters. At the story's center is Lynn (Callina Liang), a first-generation immigrant whose parents came from China with the hope of a better life, if not for themselves, then for their daughter. The teen's widower father (played by Benedict Wong, who effuses such decency, humility, and support in a role expanded from the first film) runs a laundromat, is behind on rent and other bills, and won't let his work or financial difficulties get in the way of providing more opportunities for his daughter.

At the moment, that means enrolling Lynn in a private, college-prep high school. After explaining just how much the tuition and assorted fees and transportation costs will be with some impromptu math, Lynn is given a full-ride scholarship, because, yes, she simply is too intelligent not to be part of the school.

Lynn makes a fast friend in Grace (Taylor Hickson), a fellow student with dreams of becoming a professional actor, but her grades need improvement if she wants to audition for the school plays. Lynn agrees to tutor her, since Grace points out they'd be hanging out anyway, but on the day of an important test, the friend panics, because the lessons simply haven't stuck.

Out of compassion for her only friend, Lynn helps Grace cheat on the test, completing it quickly herself and improvising a way to get Grace the answers without anyone noticing. The gag, involving an eraser and the exchanging of shoes, is copied directly from the 2017 film, and the entirety of Lynn's various cheating schemes, which escalate in ambition and moving parts, are lifted directly from the source material. This is merely an observation, not a flaw with Lee's interpretation. He's wise enough to know not to try to fix something that function as well as these sequences.

They arrive after Grace's boyfriend Pat (Samuel Braun), the son of a lawyer for a major tech company, asks for Lynn's "tutoring" help for him and a group of his pals. Pat lays out the case for Lynn to help them cheat quite convincingly, since there's no reason Lynn shouldn't profit from the wealth and privilege of people like him. She'll be generously compensated and still succeed because of her talents, and the rich kids will be rewarded for their educational "success," which will make even more people willing to pay Lynn for her services.

Those who know the original already know how Lynn's plan works, hits some snags, and eventually results in a cross-country scheme that requires hidden cellphones, perfect timing, and a lot more. They won't be detailed here, for the benefit of those who aren't aware and deserve to see them unfold with as little knowledge as possible (ideally in the original film, obviously, even though this is the one being discussed). Lee and Onah haven't changed the specifics, except when necessary for the new setting, and again, that's the correct decision.

There is one more player, though, who is especially overlooked in this version. He's Bank (Jabari Banks), who comes from a family much like Lynn's and possesses a strict moral code. The rising rivalry between these characters was one of several ways that the original developed its protagonist, her friends, and the underlying themes of its twisty story. Bad Genius, though, bypasses much of that, giving us sentimental scenes outside of the plot instead of letting these characters reveal themselves by way of their actions. It's a small but vital difference—one that makes this version more about the plotting than the people driving it.

Back to Home

Buy Related Products