realityhigh

Realityhigh is an American teen drama-comedy film that was released by Netflix in 2017. Directed by Fernando Lebrija, and starring Nesta Cooper, Keith Powers, and Alicia Sanz amongst other talented actors, the film aims to depict the angst-ridden journey of high school students in the modern world obsessed with social media popularity.

The narrative primarily revolves around the life of high school senior Dani Barnes (played by Nesta Cooper). Dani is depicted as a conscientious, intelligent, and nerdy student whose life revolves around academics, her friends, and her loyal fluffy dog. Her main aim is to secure a future for herself by trying to get into the prestigious University of California, Davis, to become a veterinarian, and she wholeheartedly works towards it. Her dedication towards her aim and her lack of interest in all-things-teen, make her something of an outsider in her high school, where popularity is often scored by one's prowess on social media and not grades.

Dani’s life takes a significant turn when she develops a crush on Cameron Drake (Keith Powers), the handsome and charming boy-next-door, who is also her long-time tutor. Cameron is your quintessential popular hunk who seems to have the perfect life, complete with a celebrity ex-girlfriend, Alexa Medina (Alicia Sanz), who holds immense clout on social media and influence among high school peers.

In an attempt to grasp Cameron’s attention and allure him away from his past love Alexa, Dani starts embracing a new identity that slowly veers from her true self. She begins to immerse herself into the world of social media and popularity, often making decisions that were previously unfathomable for her. As her popularity starts to soar with her activities, she begins to question her values, relationships, and most importantly, her identity.

The film demonstrates the emotional turmoil Dani goes through while trying to juggle her usual life and this newfound popularity stemming from social media. She starts to compromise her relationship with her best friends in an attempt to fit into the popular clique, while at the same time, Alexa seems to lurk around, not ready to let Cameron go completely.

Realityhigh takes teenage angst and navigates it through the complex labyrinth of social media popularity, close friendships, first-love crushes, and acceptance. The film also deals with the thematic concepts of identity, authenticity, and teenage insecurity vis-a-vis the digital age. It dives deep into the repercussion of wanting to fit in at the cost of losing oneself. It also offers a critique on the culture of online popularity and the pressures it poses on teenagers.

The narrative is full of comedic sketches, making it a light-hearted watch while also exploring thought-provoking discussion points. The movie expertly employs high school clichés to its advantage, creating a blend of humor and social commentary. It also offers moments of heartfelt candor as the movie progresses towards the climax. It shows a protagonist mumbling, fumbling, stumbling only to find herself again; this time more grounded, aware, and confident.

Apart from the narrative, Realityhigh also boasts of strong performances by its cast. Nesta Cooper, as Dani, shines bright in her portrayal of an innocent, studious girl who becomes a social media maven. Keith Powers as the handsome hunk and romantic interest of Dani delivers a commendable performance. Alicia Sanz as the social-media-obsessed antagonist Alexa Medina serves a memorable performance.

Realityhigh will mainly appeal to those who enjoy coming-of-age stories that explore adolescent angst and love, while also providing a critique of our social media-obsessed culture. It prompts the audience to reflect upon the question 'How far can one go to fit in?' With a mix of laughter, heartbreak, and self-discovery, Realityhigh is a movie that portrays the great lengths adolescents go to secure acceptance and popularity, testing the boundaries of their personal identities in the process. It’s a tale across many high schools that teens will definitely relate to.