MOVIE OF THE WEEK (3/2/12): PROJECT X
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper, Nick Nervies, Alexis Knapp, Jonathan Daniel Brown, Kirby Bliss Blanton, Peter Mackenzie, Rick Shapiro, Rob Evors, Dax Flame ... And about 1,000 teenagers
WRITER(S): Matt Drake (screenplay); Michael Bacall (story and screenplay)
DIRECTOR: Nima Nourizadeh
THE PLOT: Indirectly (or directly, as some may rightly argue) inspired by an Australian teenager ... And just about every other ribald party/guys' night out movie made since 1980, Project X begins by introducing us to Thomas Kub (Thomas Mann), a normal but non-popular kid who is getting ready to celebrate his 17th birthday. His birthday just so happens to coincide with his parents' (Peter Mackenzie and Caitlin Dulany) wedding anniversary, which will see them heading out of town for a few days.
Enter Thomas' two best friends: Costa (Oliver Cooper), a loud, brash, 'superbad" and always looking for a good time Queens transplant and JB (Jonathan Daniel Brown), a chubby, nerdy generally easy going guy who is ready to enjoy some "Mclovin'" (Get it? Got it? Good.) While Thomas' dad knows his son will likely have a few friends over to celebrate the occasion (hence the $40 he left him for pizza), he has no idea what Costa has in store.
Neither does Thomas ... Nor does JB ... Nor does the rest of Pasadena, CA ... What ensues is the wildest party to ever be captured on film, private or otherwise.
Enter Thomas' two best friends: Costa (Oliver Cooper), a loud, brash, 'superbad" and always looking for a good time Queens transplant and JB (Jonathan Daniel Brown), a chubby, nerdy generally easy going guy who is ready to enjoy some "Mclovin'" (Get it? Got it? Good.) While Thomas' dad knows his son will likely have a few friends over to celebrate the occasion (hence the $40 he left him for pizza), he has no idea what Costa has in store.
Neither does Thomas ... Nor does JB ... Nor does the rest of Pasadena, CA ... What ensues is the wildest party to ever be captured on film, private or otherwise.
THE TAKE: Watching Project X, the first thought that came to mind that will likely be all some people will need to know in regards to whether or not they want to see the movie: How in the hell did this movie not get rated NC-17?! As its latest ad says, the movie is like Superbad had sex with The Hangover in every sense of the word, the only difference being this film's lack of male nudity. There is, however, more nudity and drug use depicted than in either of those two films combined (or at least it feels that way).
Let me put it to you like this: At the advance screening I attended, there were a group of elementary school kids who COULD NOT have been older than sixth grade students sitting directly behind me. While I had a feeling they were going to get QUITE an education watching Project X, I had no idea what was in store for them (let alone myself). I wish I could have been a fly in the car on that ride home.
Kids: When we get in high school, I want to have a party like THAT!
Adult guardian realizing they have made a horrible, horrible mistake taking them to the movie: You won't be doing that under MY watch!
Kids, plotting deviously amongst each other via text messages, Twitter and Facebook: Just kidding! (No we are not - once we turn 17, we are going to turn one of our parents houses into our own personal hedonistic playground.)
Adult guardian: You better not! (I'm so screwed ... But it was a funny movie.)
I have been trying for the better part of 3-plus days trying to figure out what to say about Project X. For while there are things that are enjoyable about it (the interplay between the characters is pretty decent, there are some genuinely funny moments and if I was in high school, I'm pretty sure I would want to go to a party like the one depicted in the movie ... Provided it was not at MY house and that if I partook of any of the narcotics/substances/liquids the kids in the film do, I would not end up in rehab, on Beyond Scared Straight and/or in jail.
If you somehow haven't gotten the hint yet, Project X is EXACTLY what you think it is. If you think it's going to be a risque, crazy, uncensored, ultimate teenage party fantasy movie, you'll be happy. If you think this movie will encourage teenagers nationwide to rebel against their parents, incite riots, do drugs, have premartial sex, uh ... It remains to be seen!
All things considered, Project X isn't really that original of a movie; it just executes a simple idea (the ultimate high school party) to the extreme and leaves all other movies of its kind in its wake. Whereas Superbad and movies like it do actually really delve into the relationships among its characters, Project X is pretty much all about the party and the insanity it reaches. It really is an experience ... Whether or not it's one you can support depends on how you feel about teen sex and drug use and the context you feel this film fits into ... I really don't know what else to tell you about that, but I'll try!
Acting: B- ... It's OK as a whole; Oliver Cooper steals the show as the boorish Costa, for better or worse depending on how old you are, how responsible you are and how much property you own.
Music: A-plus. The hip-hop soundtrack sets the mood for each moment very, very well.
Story: Kids throw party. All breaks loose. Kids kinda grow up in an odd fashion because of it. Adults watching mortified, number of vasectomies and tubes being tied likely to increase.
Summary: To quote Jay-Z and Kanye West, "That **** cray!"
Let me put it to you like this: At the advance screening I attended, there were a group of elementary school kids who COULD NOT have been older than sixth grade students sitting directly behind me. While I had a feeling they were going to get QUITE an education watching Project X, I had no idea what was in store for them (let alone myself). I wish I could have been a fly in the car on that ride home.
Kids: When we get in high school, I want to have a party like THAT!
Adult guardian realizing they have made a horrible, horrible mistake taking them to the movie: You won't be doing that under MY watch!
Kids, plotting deviously amongst each other via text messages, Twitter and Facebook: Just kidding! (No we are not - once we turn 17, we are going to turn one of our parents houses into our own personal hedonistic playground.)
Adult guardian: You better not! (I'm so screwed ... But it was a funny movie.)
I have been trying for the better part of 3-plus days trying to figure out what to say about Project X. For while there are things that are enjoyable about it (the interplay between the characters is pretty decent, there are some genuinely funny moments and if I was in high school, I'm pretty sure I would want to go to a party like the one depicted in the movie ... Provided it was not at MY house and that if I partook of any of the narcotics/substances/liquids the kids in the film do, I would not end up in rehab, on Beyond Scared Straight and/or in jail.
If you somehow haven't gotten the hint yet, Project X is EXACTLY what you think it is. If you think it's going to be a risque, crazy, uncensored, ultimate teenage party fantasy movie, you'll be happy. If you think this movie will encourage teenagers nationwide to rebel against their parents, incite riots, do drugs, have premartial sex, uh ... It remains to be seen!
All things considered, Project X isn't really that original of a movie; it just executes a simple idea (the ultimate high school party) to the extreme and leaves all other movies of its kind in its wake. Whereas Superbad and movies like it do actually really delve into the relationships among its characters, Project X is pretty much all about the party and the insanity it reaches. It really is an experience ... Whether or not it's one you can support depends on how you feel about teen sex and drug use and the context you feel this film fits into ... I really don't know what else to tell you about that, but I'll try!
Acting: B- ... It's OK as a whole; Oliver Cooper steals the show as the boorish Costa, for better or worse depending on how old you are, how responsible you are and how much property you own.
Music: A-plus. The hip-hop soundtrack sets the mood for each moment very, very well.
Story: Kids throw party. All breaks loose. Kids kinda grow up in an odd fashion because of it. Adults watching mortified, number of vasectomies and tubes being tied likely to increase.
Summary: To quote Jay-Z and Kanye West, "That **** cray!"
THE TAKE: The ultimate high school party movie to stand above all others, Project X is quite the wild ride ... Whether or not you can handle it, however, remains to be seen (literally).
RATING (OUT OF FOUR BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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