What truly zings about Banana Split, though, is that it's a Gen Z romcom actually written by a teenager, with all those accompanying imperfections. That and its ending totally hits the sweet spot.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 5, 2020

Banana Split is like a really poor episode of Riverdale, but less compelling.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Jun 5, 2020

The fundamental premise of this never really looks anything other than muddled and implausible, and certainly doesn't free up the relationship between Marks and Liberato in any satisfyingly comic direction.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 3, 2020

The problem with Banana Split isn't the surface phoniness or lazy comedy but the fact that the movie doesn't offer any insight into its ostensible subjects-among them break-ups, female friendship, and teenage jealousy.

| Original Score: C | Apr 1, 2020

A smart and breezy coming-of-age comedy that pushes a lot of the buttons that Booksmart does.

| Mar 31, 2020

In short, this is a smart and moving comedy that will make you howl with laughter and call your best gal pal. It's d*mn good stuff and shouldn't be missed.

| Mar 30, 2020

It is absolutely lovely. If I was going to watch a movie virtually this weekend, I would absolutely pick this one.

| Mar 28, 2020

An entertaining and often insightful look at female friendship during a particularly strange time.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Mar 27, 2020

Regardless of how far audience members are from their own post-high school, pre-college summer like these teens, there's still truth and plenty of laughter here that feels specific to their experience yet universal to anyone who's had a BFF.

| Mar 27, 2020

When the movie is over, you've chuckled at it and been touched by it, and you're glad that you got to spend time with these actors, who are good enough that I could foresee any one of them blowing up big.

| Mar 27, 2020

Like any romance, "Banana Split" is constrained to some familiar beats, but Kasulke, Marks, and Power have such a handle on what makes the film tick - and Marks and Liberato are so charming and fun - that even expected turns feel clever and fresh.

| Original Score: B+ | Mar 26, 2020

Is "Banana Split" an empty indulgence or a comfortingly familiar confection? Probably both.

| Mar 26, 2020

Plenty of viewers are likely to nod when April googles "anxiety vs actual heart attack," while this critic was fully onboard from the moment she righteously refuses to serve a customer a hot dog at her movie theater concession job.

| Mar 25, 2020

Kasulke maintains a strong rapport with his cast and as a result the performances rarely feel forced, even when things get a bit outrageous, although for a cinematographer-turned-director, he favors a fairly subdued visual style.

| Oct 19, 2018