NEW TO NETFLIX! I don’t actively seek out teen dramas as they are often just a level above Disney Channel quality storytelling. They tend to lack depth of story, and I’ve passed my teen years long ago. Teen girl dramas don’t fare much better. I’ve never watched a moment of Freeform. So let’s just say this particular teen girl drama, Benjamin Kasulke’s Banana Split is a pretty incredible movie.
The plot is pretty standard when it comes to the genre. April (Hannah Marks) and boyfriend Nick (Dylan Sprouse) have been a couple for two years leading up to high school graduation. The two are opposites, and maybe their relationship started as hormonal, it ultimately ended with a lot of fighting and bickering. But the final death knell for the two was Hannah heading to Boston for college and Nick going to Santa Barbara.
“April does her best to befriend Clara in hopes of sabotaging her relationship with Nick.”
As freshman orientation is just weeks away, April finds out that Nick has moved onto another girl, Clara (Liana Liberato). With a little twinge of jealousy, April begins stalking Clara on social media and formulating a plan, subconsciously, with Ben. Who’s Ben? We’re hitting a lot of clichés, so there has to be the third wheel. Ben is Nick’s cousin, April’s closest friend, and Clara’s god-cousin(?)if that’s such a thing.
Back to the story, April decides to go to the last party of the summer—knowing Clara will be there. As fate would have it, the two meet, and April does her best to befriend Clara in hopes of sabotaging her relationship with Nick. But after an evening together and a few day dates, the two become close friends…best friends, if you will. But like a good teen drama, there must be more drama.
"…sweet, funny, cringe-worthy, and a testament to the importance of high school friendships"
