The Re-Education of Molly Singer feels old-fashioned in a way that’s both comforting and a little dated. These days, teen comedies either go over the top or try too hard to be sincere, but this movie sits somewhere in the middle. Andy Palmer directs with a clear love for classic campus-comedy tropes, adding some millennial nostalgia and just enough heart to keep it friendly. The movie is fun enough to watch, but it never really stands out or hits any big emotional moments.

Britney Spears jokes, beer pong scenes, and awkward fraternity moments show up just when you expect them. The usual lessons about growing up are there, too. Even though the movie sometimes feels like it’s made from bits of better comedies, its relaxed charm makes it easy to keep watching, even when the jokes start to feel familiar.

Britt Robertson plays Molly Singer, a young lawyer whose career is falling apart because she can’t let go of her wild side. Molly comes across as the classic movie-free spirit who mixes recklessness with charm, but Robertson does her best to make her feel real. When her boss, Brenda, asks her to help Elliot, the shy son of the firm’s top client, Molly comes up with a far-fetched plan: she’ll enrol at his old university with him and show him how to fit in.

The story is pretty far-fetched, but the movie is in on the joke. Palmer isn’t trying to make things realistic; instead, he goes for a big, cartoon-like fantasy where grown-ups get one more shot at college life. The problem is, the script doesn’t do much new with this idea. Most of the laughs come from familiar culture-clash jokes and long, awkward scenes that seem borrowed from other, better movies.

Even so, the cast makes the movie easier to enjoy. Robertson is always fun to watch and brings a lot of warmth and good timing to her role, even when the script is weak. Ty Simpkins gives Elliot a real sense of vulnerability, so he feels like more than just a joke. Nico Santos also stands out as Molly’s frustrated coworker, Paulie, delivering his lines with perfect deadpan humour.

The movie’s main problem is that it doesn’t seem sure who it’s made for. It tries to show Gen Z college life, but everything feels like it’s coming from an older point of view, almost as if the writers miss the early-2000s comedies. You can see hints of Old School and Legally Blonde, but it doesn’t have the wild energy of the first or the clever humour of the second. The film tries to both celebrate and criticise youthful mistakes, which makes the emotional story feel a bit empty.

Palmer keeps the visuals bright and straightforward, but the direction doesn’t have the comic timing needed to make the usual material stand out. Some jokes come a little too late, while others are so obvious you see them coming before the actors finish their lines. Still, there’s a real sweetness under all the familiar moments. Unlike a lot of recent comedies, The Re-Education of Molly Singer isn’t mean or trying too hard to be edgy. It just wants to be fun.

And for parts of the movie, it succeeds. It’s not amazing or unforgettable, but it’s enjoyable enough.

By the time the expected ending comes around, the movie feels like comfort food: fun while you’re watching, but easy to forget later. It’s not going to be a campus classic, but it’s also not as bad as its story might suggest.

Similar films: No Hard Feelings, The Girl Next Door, Never Been Kissed

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