The film follows Lydia (Haley Jennings) who, despite her lack of understanding of the subject, has to take an advanced AP Physics course to accommodate her schedule. With only a few hours until the next AP Physics exam, Lydia, along with Kai (Talia J Williams) and Saira (Alina Kazi), have to make the most of their study time. But as their differing personalities collide, chaos and hijinks are bound to ensue.
The narrative, while grounded in reality, never ceases to be captivating in how it presents and paces the overall plot. For instance, although the stakes are anything but dramatic, the very idea of failing a major exam already has a negative connotation from the audience's perspective. The pacing complements these stakes rather well, going through one of Lydia's study attempts at a time to rack up anticipation. Even minor aspects of the story - ranging from classmates needing to borrow pens to the unbearable pressure of e-learning - are given enough time to really resonate with the audience. Audiences tend to gravitate towards plots that rely on real-world occurrences, so playing off of such occurrences is a win in my book. Lydia (who is determined), Kai (who is eccentric), and Saira (who is studious) all have key characteristics that help them stand out. Their respective actors also aid in accentuating the uniqueness of these characters, managing to portray them as realistically as possible while also engaging in casual discussions that communicate their friendship to the audience. When Lydia imagines Kai and Saira berating her for not understanding the class material, the camera chose to zoom away from Lydia. Such a decision makes Lydia appear vulnerable; a visual representation of how she felt in the moment. My favorite part of the film is towards the end, where we see Kai gain her comeuppance after having one of her pens stolen. Not only does it have perfect comedic timing, but it also plays into a pivotal character moment for Lydia to finalize her decision on remaining in AP Physics.
The film's message is to speak up about issues you may be facing, even if you expect judgment.
I give AP Survival 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18. By Christian C., KIDS FIRST!
The film follows Lydia (Haley Jennings) who, despite her lack of understanding of the subject, has to take an advanced AP Physics course to accommodate her schedule. With only a few hours until the next AP Physics exam, Lydia, along with Kai (Talia J Williams) and Saira (Alina Kazi), have to make the most of their study time. But as their differing personalities collide, chaos and hijinks are bound to ensue.
The narrative, while grounded in reality, never ceases to be captivating in how it presents and paces the overall plot. For instance, although the stakes are anything but dramatic, the very idea of failing a major exam already has a negative connotation from the audience's perspective. The pacing complements these stakes rather well, going through one of Lydia's study attempts at a time to rack up anticipation. Even minor aspects of the story - ranging from classmates needing to borrow pens to the unbearable pressure of e-learning - are given enough time to really resonate with the audience. Audiences tend to gravitate towards plots that rely on real-world occurrences, so playing off of such occurrences is a win in my book. Lydia (who is determined), Kai (who is eccentric), and Saira (who is studious) all have key characteristics that help them stand out. Their respective actors also aid in accentuating the uniqueness of these characters, managing to portray them as realistically as possible while also engaging in casual discussions that communicate their friendship to the audience. When Lydia imagines Kai and Saira berating her for not understanding the class material, the camera chose to zoom away from Lydia. Such a decision makes Lydia appear vulnerable; a visual representation of how she felt in the moment. My favorite part of the film is towards the end, where we see Kai gain her comeuppance after having one of her pens stolen. Not only does it have perfect comedic timing, but it also plays into a pivotal character moment for Lydia to finalize her decision on remaining in AP Physics.
The film's message is to speak up about issues you may be facing, even if you expect judgment.
I give AP Survival 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18. By Christian C., KIDS FIRST!
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