You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah is a funny and heartwarming 2023 coming-of-age story directed by Sammi Cohen and written by Alison Peck, based on the 2005 book by Fiona Rosenbloom. It’s about growing up, friendship and being Jewish – but this movie is definitely for everyone.

​

The film stars the entire Sandler family, including Adam, his daughters and his wife, Jackie. I found it an interesting choice to have Jackie Sandler play a different character instead of Adam’s wife and the girls’ mom – but I guess they felt that would be too much art imitating life. Instead, Idina Menzel plays Adam’s on-screen wife, a role she played once before in the harrowing Uncut Gems.

​

While all of the Sandlers are charming and believable in You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, Sunny Sandler is the stand-out star as Stacy Friedman, a 13-year-old girl who is preparing for her bat mitzvah. 

​

Stacy's best friend, Lydia, is also preparing for her bat mitzvah, and the two girls are inseparable. However, when they both have crushes on the same boy, their friendship is put to the test and many middle-school horrors result.

​

Brace yourself for lots of period humor, which Adam Sandler handles like the girl-dad he is. It’s pretty fun seeing him in loving, goofy dad mode with his actual daughters – I have to wonder if his parents like this in real life, and I’m betting he does.

​

While the film is not particularly original, it does offer a fresh and relatable take on the coming-of-age story. I will say that it provides a narrow view of the Bat Mitzvah experience; not everyone can afford to party like wealthy, East coast Jewish families.

​

Overall, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah is a charming and enjoyable film that is sure to resonate with viewers of all ages – especially those who like coming-of-age comedies, Adam Sandler films, and stories about female friendship.