‘Eighth Grade’ gets rottentomatoes.com seal of approval

I keep reading stories that cite the website rottentomatoes.com, which is a compilation of opinions posted around the world by movie critics. Some of these stories make a case that these opinions amount to a consensus on greatness.

As in the comedy, best drama, best action flick, etc.

Fact is, it's an unfair evaluation. Not every film ever made is mentioned on the site, so how can you use it as any overall gauge of greatness? Rottentomatoes.com is far better at giving you a sense of how much quality an individual film might have — despite the obvious differences of opinion that occur among all of us.

Take, for instance, the film "Eighth Grade," which opens at AMC River Park Square on Friday. The film, which was written and directed by Bo Burnham, scored a 99 percent positive rating among 147 critics (the count, as of this morning, was 145 positive against only 2 negative).

That's a fair indication that the film is worthwhile. Here are a few of the comments:

Naomi Fry, The New Yorker: "In addition to its queasy verisimilitude, 'Eighth Grade' offers acute observations on how social media and the language of self-care have warped teen life."

Cody Corrall, Chicago Reader: " 'Eighth Grade' is a harrowing portrait of anxiety and acceptance in a post-social-media landscape, showing how all of us cope with an ever-changing, constantly refreshing world."

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: "Burnham is clearly conflicted about the emotional effects of the constant comparisons, competitions and invidious voyeurism young people are subjecting themselves to nearly all day long. And he gets the subjective experience right."

That's the critical consensus. Now go and make up your own mind.

Below: Writer-director Bo Burnham and star Elsie Fisher at Sundance 2018.