When someone says that high school was the best years of their life, they clearly peaked way too early; at least that’s my thought. Sure, there are some things that may seem simpler in retrospect, but existing within the same space as hundreds of other pubescent teenagers with varying levels of emotional depth and control is far from my idea of fun. Hormones dictate so many of the interactions between classmates, from romance and intimacy to anger and aggression, which taint the overall positives of so many formative experiences of our adolescence. This universal experience lies at the core of Lilly Singh’s latest film, Doin’ It, which explores what happens with someone misses some important events from their teenage years.
This comedy film blends concepts of identity formation and self-expression through the lens of an adult who has yet to have sex, but somehow finds herself teaching a class of high school students Sex-Ed. Written by director Sarah Zandieh (A Simple Wedding, The Other Zoey), Neel Patel, and the film’s star herself, Doin’ It delivers laughs while also giving audiences plenty to think about universal experiences such as sex, relationships, and finding love.
While undoubtedly raunchy, there’s something sweet about the story of Maya and the connections she makes while taking an unexpected detour in her life. While this film may not be for everyone, Doin’ It showcases how everyone’s journey of self-discovery happens at their own pace and that it’s never too late to learn to love yourself in every sense of the word.
[Warning: spoilers from Doin’ It are below!]
Maya’s got some research to do in Doin’ It
Maya’s (Singh) life was drastically changed when she was younger, thanks to a classmate who came too early to a party…if you catch my drift. If engaging in any type of pre-marital sex (although what happens is hard to classify as such) wasn’t bad enough, embarrassing herself and her family in front of the entire school is the worst case scenario.
Seeing the writing on the wall, Maya’s Mother, Veena (Sonia Dhillon-Tulley), moves the family back to India, so they may live a more conservative lifestyle. She only wants the best for her daughter, and frankly, public schools in America and the temptations they bring just aren’t cutting it anymore. Living a life that values modesty and with stricter societal rules, Veena can ensure that her daughter will grow up without tarnishing her honor.
Fast forward a decade and a half or so — give or take a few years — and Maya, along with her mother, has returned to the United States, ready to start a new chapter. Our protagonist has earned herself a degree in software engineering and is hoping to launch a successful app all her own. However, launching an app —or any business, for that matter —takes capital, something she’s lacking during her research phase.
So, what’s someone who’s creating an application for teens and lacks any kind of money for said research to do? Get a job as a substitute teacher at a high school, of course! Anticipating her degree might land her a sweet gig as a math or technology teacher, what Maya wasn’t expecting was to teach high school students about sex.
As someone who is behind in that specific department, Maya’s a bit out of her element. How exactly can she teach teens something she knows nothing about? And so begins the traditional coming-of-age story for someone whose unconventional age makes the experience unusual. So does Maya find herself in Doin’ It, and if so, how? Well, you’ll have to check out this film to find out!
An unconventional retelling of a universal story lies in Doin’ It
As a queer man in my 30s, I appreciate when a show or film explores something that is assumed to be universal for most, if not all, people, but through a different lens. Growing up at a time when it still didn’t feel safe or alright to be out in high school, seeing stories like Heartstopper heals something inside me. I wasn’t able to have those young-love experiences, so by watching these stories, people can have secondhand joy and, at the same time, not feel nearly as lonely if they don’t fit social expectations.
That was perhaps my biggest takeaway from Doin’ It: there shouldn’t be inherent shame in whatever life trajectory we have. As we begin following adult Maya, there’s no doubt that she feels like there’s something wrong with being a virgin, a sentiment that is echoed by quite a few of the characters in the show. However, as she learns more about sex in general, she gains insight into her own journey and how holding onto the shame only brings hurt.
It’s a deeper message than just when someone loses their virginity, but instead one about how comparing our lives and the choices we make is never a good thing. So many times, we notice the “positives” about others, weighing against what we find negative about ourselves. Who deemed that losing your virginity by 18 was a great thing anyway? Why does it matter if your sister has three degrees and you only have two? Instead of living our lives comparing one facet of ourselves to that of others, Doin’ It challenges audiences to take a page out of Maya’s book and just focus on what makes sense for themselves.
As someone who’s admired Lilly Singh for quite a long time, her role in Doin’ It only cements that. There’s such an emphasis on mental health, identity, and self-expression (which Singh has preached throughout her career); however, it never feels like it’s being bashed over viewers’ heads. Instead, the cast and creatives use humor to deliver the greater message, making it easier to digest. Doin’ It will make you laugh until your sides hurt, but overall will leave you thinking about your own personal journey and why it’s best to just focus on moving forward rather than on benchmark moments you’ve hit compared to others.
Doin’ It is available for rent and purchase from Prime Video!
