Project X is not the kind of movie I expected to enjoy. It takes the overplayed gimmick of fictional found footage (shot supposedly by tweaked out teens) and uses it to hold the flag for all things irresponsible. It may at the same time it carries the burden of frankness few teen comedies offer.
Underachiever Thomas Kub (Thomas Mann) is celebrating his birthday, which coincided with his parents' anniversary. They've left him in charge of the house, but his three friends force his hand into throwing the most epic of parties.
In the traditional sense the brash teen comedy has always incorporated a party scene. Many have been as bold to display the party as the focal point for a night of revelations. Usually this is nothing more than a collection of clichés. The jock bully is dating the innocent hot girl who happens to be the object of the introverted protagonist's affection. His plump friend provides the slapstick. Debauchery is civil.
In Project X most of this is turned upside down. For starters the information age takes an active role as the narrative comes from every camera on the scene. This is nearly identical to the device found in Chronicle where telekinetic teens shoot themselves experimenting with their powers. Project X takes this to another level in terms of the screenplay. Seeing teenagers wreck themselves so candidly hits the older viewers hard, the only way to make it a more cautionary tale would be to have deadly consequences. When an adult neighbor threatens to shutdown the fun, his actions are caught on video and used to blackmail him. An argument out of earshot is played out through pantomime. The unrealistic advantage of focus, lighting, and amazing sound do force some suspension of disbelief.
The party itself lives up to the billing, and then some. You've heard of being the life of the party, but this thing makes itself a character. Like a monster it consumes a neighborhood. There's something genuine about the collection of bodies not simply standing around holding red plastic cups and advance subplots—the plot is how to control this beast. Hiring 12-year old security guards probably wasn't the best idea.
Our heroes aren't likable, but that's what makes them interesting. They talk the big game of high school boys. Their performances are genuine. The arrogant Costa (Oliver Cooper) is particularly charming. The girls that arrive for the bash are surreally beautiful, and in hyperbolic quantity. It would be easy to write off the female characters as nothing more than over-sexed, one-dimensional shells. The two that stand out are Kirby (Kirby Bliss Blanton) and Alexis (Alexis Knapp). The former is the friend of the group, the latter the most desired girl of the film. Do either engage in an over-the-top showdown? No, and in an even bigger surprise the hot girl isn't the mean girl.
What initially struck me as a surely aimless movie filling the fantasies of the recreational drug crowd engaged me with its kinetic energy and dare I say authenticity. I have to hand it to a movie that makes good on its promise. Directed by first timer Nima Nourizadeh but produced by Todd Phillips, a comparison to The Hangover is inevitable. Project X makes The Hangover look like Adventures in Babysitting.
Vist my site VaughnOnMovies.com to see my video review.
Underachiever Thomas Kub (Thomas Mann) is celebrating his birthday, which coincided with his parents' anniversary. They've left him in charge of the house, but his three friends force his hand into throwing the most epic of parties.
In the traditional sense the brash teen comedy has always incorporated a party scene. Many have been as bold to display the party as the focal point for a night of revelations. Usually this is nothing more than a collection of clichés. The jock bully is dating the innocent hot girl who happens to be the object of the introverted protagonist's affection. His plump friend provides the slapstick. Debauchery is civil.
In Project X most of this is turned upside down. For starters the information age takes an active role as the narrative comes from every camera on the scene. This is nearly identical to the device found in Chronicle where telekinetic teens shoot themselves experimenting with their powers. Project X takes this to another level in terms of the screenplay. Seeing teenagers wreck themselves so candidly hits the older viewers hard, the only way to make it a more cautionary tale would be to have deadly consequences. When an adult neighbor threatens to shutdown the fun, his actions are caught on video and used to blackmail him. An argument out of earshot is played out through pantomime. The unrealistic advantage of focus, lighting, and amazing sound do force some suspension of disbelief.
The party itself lives up to the billing, and then some. You've heard of being the life of the party, but this thing makes itself a character. Like a monster it consumes a neighborhood. There's something genuine about the collection of bodies not simply standing around holding red plastic cups and advance subplots—the plot is how to control this beast. Hiring 12-year old security guards probably wasn't the best idea.
Our heroes aren't likable, but that's what makes them interesting. They talk the big game of high school boys. Their performances are genuine. The arrogant Costa (Oliver Cooper) is particularly charming. The girls that arrive for the bash are surreally beautiful, and in hyperbolic quantity. It would be easy to write off the female characters as nothing more than over-sexed, one-dimensional shells. The two that stand out are Kirby (Kirby Bliss Blanton) and Alexis (Alexis Knapp). The former is the friend of the group, the latter the most desired girl of the film. Do either engage in an over-the-top showdown? No, and in an even bigger surprise the hot girl isn't the mean girl.
What initially struck me as a surely aimless movie filling the fantasies of the recreational drug crowd engaged me with its kinetic energy and dare I say authenticity. I have to hand it to a movie that makes good on its promise. Directed by first timer Nima Nourizadeh but produced by Todd Phillips, a comparison to The Hangover is inevitable. Project X makes The Hangover look like Adventures in Babysitting.
Vist my site VaughnOnMovies.com to see my video review.