"Popular Theory" is a smart, fun comedy-drama about family, friendship, and (of course!) science. Outcast and child genius Erwin pairs up with rival student Winston in an attempt to win the state science fair, but gets more than she bargained for as her experiment slowly spirals out of control and ultimately teaches her some important lessons about friendship, family, and what it really means to be "smart."
This is one of those movies that everyone in the family can agree on and enjoy watching for different reasons. I appreciated that I could watch it with my younger kids-I didn't have to explain any overt references that were too old for them, there were no seriously scary or violent parts, and the pace was fast enough that it kept their interest. (And the science, while science-y in the way you hope it will be, is not too challenging to understand for all ages.)
For older kids and adults, the movie surprisingly manages to tackle some dynamic, difficult issues: acceptance and social rejection (for Erwin, her sister, and several other characters), death of a parent, depression (the dad), neurodivergent behaviors (Winston), the power of nontraditional families (the aunt), ethical questions of social/corporate responsibility (does accountability for abuse of an invention lie in the hands of the user or inventor?), etc etc. These more complex themes made the film enjoyable for my spouse and I and gave us some great opportunities for follow-on conversations with our eldest child, but the mature content was elevated enough to go over the heads of the little ones, who just enjoyed watching the film for its great main story line, lovable characters, and a few fun twists.
The film showcases great writing, directing, acting, music, and set design. It's a more wholesome "Mean Girls" with a smart, quirky heroine and had moments that reminded me of movies like "Matilda," "Juno," and some Wes Anderson films and shows like "Just Add Magic" and "The Babysitters Club." I've been recommending it to all my friends-those with kids and those without-who want to watch a smart, refreshing film with a lot of heart.
