Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The School for Good and Evil’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains minor spoilers for the motion picture ‘The School for Good and Evil’.
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One would think that more exuberant stories, such as fairy tales… would have no place in our modern landscape and rightfully so. After all, the vast majorities of stories out there, reflect modern times and currently storytelling is no exception to that rule. After all, what’s on the silver and small screen and in print right now, fits with the times by pondering upon the human condition in the 21st Century, leaving no room for stories about and magic and mysticism, and royalty when our minds are focused on far different matters. Yet what’s amazing… is that the fairy tale persists. For we still find room for them in our daily lives and our children are often the benefactors of our desire to keep them alive, and it makes sense as to why we work to keep them going.

For these are stories that go beyond the concepts of fairies and princes and princesses and faraway lands that are likely a mini mall now. Because much like our other modern stories, they too focus on the human condition. Specifically, our fundamentals, such as what it means to be good to another and what right and wrong looks like in this life, and those lessons on morality are essential in our world to this day, despite how complex our world has become. But even then, the complexities of the world can be explored within the framework of such stories, as evidenced by a brand-new motion picture that was released by Netflix today, The School for Good and Evil.

A feat that this story accomplishes, first, by perfectly plunging us into the world of fairy tales. Since we are transported to the idyllic village of Galvadon, where best friends Sophie and Agatha find themselves in quite the unique situation. Wherein a wish on Sophie’s part to escape their humble lives, transports them to the School for Good and Evil, a place where those very elements have been pitted against one another in education and competition to keep the world in balance for ages upon ages and ironically… these two young ladies find themselves placed in a school that does not seem to suit their needs. Which as it turns out, is all part of a greater plan, one that will test good and evil, and Sophie and Agatha like never before… and teach them so much about the world and life in the process.

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Which is a grand and sweeping plot that truly encapsulates the wonder of the fairy tale, since we are treated to mystical creatures here and beautiful landscapes and visuals that quite frankly, take the viewer’s breath away. Plus, having the ‘good’ character and the ‘bad’ character switch roles is equally as unique and refreshing here, since it adds a little fish out of water element to the story as well. But while it is wonderful to be plunged into a beautiful and fantastical world, one that is filled to the brim with A-list stars and action and adventure sequences that rival the epics of our day, none of that seems to really be tied into morality lessons and examinations upon our world, but have no fear, it is there… tucked away between the story’s biggest twist. 
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Specifically, that flip-flop of roles. Since that allows for traditional characters in a story such as this to see how the other half lives and come to learn that the world is not as black and white as they might like to think. Since people that we think are good can be quite bad and vice versa and having that present here and seeing the conflict and grey areas that some folks operate in within this story, and how Sophie and Agatha navigate that, allows for the viewer to come to understand that this is a grand lesson on how people incorrectly view the world and how it is imperative to see it in a more objective and realistic light. So that we come to understand how it truly works and how people actually operate so we can better relate to them and their circumstances and find common ground at last to make this world what we’ve always dreamed it to be.

Which is an impactful and timely message for our current world and that makes this movie quite intelligent when all is said and done, and it is subtle in how it projects its message. Since it never feels overwhelming in the slightest, but it stays with you for certain and teaches you plenty. Which also makes this, a perfect family night film, one that can encourage discussion and lessons or just entertain and wow since this is a beautiful film visually, one that you and your family can indulge in right now. For The School for Good and Evil is available to stream on Netflix and we hope you give it a look. Since it is quite the positive and epic story, one that does the fairy tale proud by adapting it to a world that is in dire need of a little hope and direction right now.

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