First Period 2013

Ms. Glenn, Cassandra Peterson, returns to the town she once knew with her teenage daughter, Brandon Alexander III Cassie, after the family loses Cassie’s grandmother and Cassie’s mom loses her job. The setup signals a bright, 80s-flavored comedy-drama where nostalgia, fashion, and social games collide. Cassie, the “new kid” at school, narrates her own story in a diary, sounding confident and self-assured from the very first page. She doesn’t shy away from her appearance or mannerisms, joking about how she “looks and talks like an overweight drag queen,” a line that sets the tone for a girl who pushes boundaries and refuses to play by textbook norms.

From the start, Cassie seeks to slip into the town’s social circle and become popular. The popular crowd consists of Heather and Heather, two stylishly cruel girls who wield their power with surgical precision, and their boyfriends, Dirk Michael Turchin and Brett Leigh Wakeford. The pair seem nice at first, yet their hearts quickly bend to their girlfriends’ schemes, revealing the pressures and theatrics of high school cliques. The narrative is punctuated by the presence of these powerful figures, who use fashion, status, and even cruelty to keep the social order intact.

Cassie isn’t alone in her quest for belonging. She befriends Maggie Dudley Beene, a classmate who mirrors Cassie in some ways—her voice and look are notably masculine, and she navigates gender expectations with a mix of insecurities and bravado. Maggie’s journey adds another layer to the social maze, demonstrating how acceptance, performance, and self-definition intersect in adolescence. The film doesn’t shy away from examining how adults handle gender, with a scene where a male teacher questions female anatomy in a way that feels tone-deaf and blunt, underscoring the clash between progressive intentions and outdated stereotypes.

As the school day unfolds, the class watches a film that begins with the cheesy charm of the 1950s but quickly spirals into a surreal, comedic mess—complete with a Dracula fantasy cameo that mirrors the film’s own blend of childhood whimsy and adult irony. The credits even tease a separate Dracula appearance in Maggie’s imagination, signaling the movie’s fondness for theatrical exaggeration and genre pastiche.

The story builds toward a talent show later in the week. Maggie proves she can rap with confidence, holding her own in a friendly showdown against John Adrian Burks, while Cassie, despite not having a clear talent, remains determined to throw a spectacular Sweet Sixteen that will cement her place in the social order. The tension between “freaks” and the popular crowd remains persistent, with Heather and Heather’s behavior gradually hinting at a softer, albeit still calculating, side. Dirk and Brett’s relationship becomes more nuanced, and there are subtle hints that the two guys may even share a closer bond or bisexual attraction, adding complexity to the romance plotlines.

Throughout the film, Cassie and Maggie endure a series of embarrassing, heartfelt moments that test their resilience and shape their paths toward belonging. The girls’ evolving friendships, alongside the awkward but sincere efforts of the boys, lead to a resolution that feels earned and satisfying. The ending wraps their journeys with a sense of closure that honors the awkward charm of adolescence, the push-and-pull of cliques, and the surprising ways acceptance can emerge when courage and authenticity collide.