'Class of '07' Review: Apocalyptic high school reunion comedy pens moving love letter to female friendship
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The end of the world is hard, but do you know what's harder? Accidentally stumbling upon your high school reunion party. Prime Video's newest addition 'Class of '07' takes us through the difficulties of surviving high school, leaving best friends behind, while also dealing with the fact that the world is literally ending in the background, Noah’s Arc-style. Cinema has taken some time to evolve, but the genre of showing the raw side of female friendships and bonds has always been something quite powerful and life-changing. While the premise of this new addition from Amazon Video, which follows the journey of female friendships that have faced many challenges alone, hasn't been made public, it is definitely expressed through the characters.
'Class of '07' is an all-female cast starring Emily Browning, Megan Smart, and Caitlin Stasey in the lead with many other supporting actors. It is quite refreshing to see everyone taking the lead in the story developing their characters into something that feels real and will remind us of someone we know.
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Inserting comedic edge into tense atmosphere
This Australian import, from creator Kacie Anning, follows the theoretical class of 2007 of Ridge Heights Catholic Ladies College, who have reunited ten years after graduation. The plot gives a feeling of déjà vu, while you see ex-classmates snooping in each other's lives. The snooping gets so serious that one character lies about being a doctor to hide the fact that she is a nail technician, which creates hilarious situations in the coming episodes. Zoe (an ex-The Match—a Bachelor spoof—contestant who went viral for an unfortunate and hilarious accident, has secluded herself from the rest of the world as a result, played by Emily Browning), accidentally shows up at her high school reunion party thinking its an evacuation camp but is given a hard slap of realization when she understands that she has walked into her unforgettable past. While she tries explaining to people what the scenario is outside, some believe her, and some don't. Eventually, the realization hits when Amelia (Megan Smart) attempts to leave but finds their mountain-top school surrounded by the endless ocean. The group is forced to be together and to survive till the time they get help.
Fruitfully delivering ensemble female-survivalist series
The series does a great job of delivering comedy while also giving a reality check to the audience as well as the characters. All the characters have trauma in this comedy set, everyone has been through something during their high school years that are wrapped neatly, never to be revealed directly to the audience. Although it might seem like going off rails in some scenarios, the production has had its heart in the right place throughout.
Female friendships are written in the most realistic manner, without spewing some fictional scenario that stands as a unicorn in the lavender fields. The series has everything from a teen bully to a social pariah and a bond that ended, which nobody talks about. It feels as if even though the characters left the school, they never left them. Phoebe (Steph Tisdell) still has the scholarship fund-shaped badge on her shoulder from her high school years. Genevieve (Claire Lovering) still believes that she is the Class Captain and tries to navigate the plot as a leader, and Laura (Rose Flanagan) was accidentally declared dead, but now finds herself being called "Forgettable Laura." Whether the series is trying to make you root for Zoe and Amelia's ended friendship, or introducing you to the charm of classmates who are always intoxicated, Tegan (Bernie Van Tiel) and Megan (Chi Nguyen), 'Class of ‘07' builds up tension through comedy throughout.
Lastly, this series can't be put into boxes as it would be an injustice to segregate it into something that defines tried and tested, because it isn't. It is raw, real, and feels like a throwback to our own high school days. The thing that sets 'Class of '07' apart from all other series, is that it doesn't try to focus on one character and takes you through their journey of them, but shows the perspective of everyone in the cast. It does justice to everyone and brings the reality of high school and how hard it is to survive as a teen, and proves the reason why some teens just want out.
'Class of '07' is available exclusively now only on Amazon Prime Video.