Films centered around female friendships are few and far between; it's unfortunate, considering they're some of the most genuine and heartfelt relationships to watch unfold on-screen. Thankfully, female-centric storytelling has seen an uptick over the years, and each new debut brings something different to the table. Films ranging from Penny Marshall's A League of Their Own or Callie Khouri's brilliantly written Thelma & Louise to striking new features like Olivia Wilde's snappy debut Booksmart or even Lorene Scafaria's dazzling film Hustlers offer up the same message: female friendships are a gift worth celebrating, not a challenge worth dreading. Especially when it comes to romantic comedies, women are often pitted against one another in competition for the main love interest. It's a trope that's become all-too-familiar in the genre. Thankfully, Benjamin Kasulke's debut feature turns this recognizable narrative on its head with an abundance of confidence. Bolstered by a thoughtful script and beautifully authentic performances, Banana Split provides a fresh take on the coming-of-age romantic comedy.
At the center of this story is April (Hannah Marks), an effortlessly hilarious teenager who falls head-over-heels in love with her classmate, Nick (Dylan Sprouse). Unfortunately, the relationship comes to a screeching halt as the couple finds themselves heading in different directions for college. As April attempts to move on and focus on the newfound adventure that awaits her in Boston, she finds herself emotionally derailed upon discovering Nick has started dating someone new, Clara (Liana Liberato). Infuriated with this news, she becomes determined to learn every detail that she can about this mysterious new girl that's come into Nick's life. However, after running into Clara at a party, she finds that she actually enjoys her company. April's icy hatred melts away as the two find themselves bonding. Whether it's over shots, annoyances, or a strikingly similar taste in music, a new relationship is blossoming.
A night that began filled with anger and vengeance quickly dissolves into the start of a delightful new friendship. On the other hand, Nick and Clara's relationship still poses an issue to their budding bond, so April and Clara quickly decide on a set of rules that all boil down to one thing: ignore his existence, celebrate us. For the most part, these rules stand tried and true as the two grow to become exceptionally close friends, best friends even. But, the complexities of their growing friendship mixed with Clara and Nick's evolving romance combine to create a convoluted relationship cocktail. It's easy to implement the rules, but how long can they be abided before personal feelings start taking over?
However, before emotions ultimately collide, the film takes its time to ruminate on and build April and Clara's very genuine friendship. There's never a moment where catty attitudes or immature judgments overshadow the personal connection that they form. From the get-go, they're both very honest with one another, grounding their newfound friendship in an admirable vulnerability that's palpable as a viewer. The script, written by leading lady Marks and Joey Power, takes its time developing these relationships and making sure each character feels lived-in and original. These words are further elevated by the excellent performances from both Marks and Liberato, which never once feel forced or phoned in.
Each actor brings something special to their respective roles, but more importantly, the performances blend together seamlessly. These kids truly feel connected outside of the confines of the story, which only adds to the film's authenticity. Building on top of the performances is the cinematography, which captures the vibrancy and beauty of California through a teenager's eyes. Through this wide-eyed, innocent perspective, the world is filled with beautiful, intriguing, and expansive new locations just waiting to be explored. Thankfully, Kasulke's past work as a cinematographer makes his transition into directing appear almost effortless as he captures these delightful moments of pure, blissful innocence.
Many of these successes far outweigh Banana Split's downfalls, which are very rare. At times, supporting characters such as April's mother and sister feel out-of-place from the rest of the cast (especially the latter, whose over-the-top intensity very rarely fits the authentic energy exuded from the other characters). However, their moments on screen are short-lived, as the film relishes in its main characters and the complexities of growing up, falling in love, and forming new friendships at a critical turning point in life.
It's clear that Marks is a force to be reckoned with, not only as an actress but as a writer and producer. Her script for the film, alongside co-writer Power, is strikingly original and effortlessly hilarious, but it also provided a fresh outlook on teenage friendships and relationships that's very rarely explored. It approaches its message with unabashed confidence and found an abundance of success by doing so. Banana Split celebrates female friendships and the rollercoaster of emotions that come with them, especially how, sometimes, the greatest connections can be formed when you least expect them.
Banana Split is now available On-Demand and Digital. It is 83 minutes long and rated R for crude sexual content and language throughout, drug and alcohol use -- all involving teens.