21 & Over: Who is ready to laugh?
It seems that given the unfortunate success of Project X, now we’ll have to tolerate teenage debauchery on film at least once a year. 21 & Over is not as repulsive as Project X, but that’s not to say it’s any good.
As every Superbad clone, 21 & Over follows the usual three stereotypes: The square, the irresponsible and the kooky friend (aka the ‘McLovin’). Separated by college, three best friends reunite to celebrate the birthday of one of them. The birthday boy is an overachieving Asian kid with a domineering father who has a big interview the next day (this script is brought to you by Mad Lips). Predictably, the other two get him blind drunk and have no idea where he lives. Shenanigans ensue.
There is nobody of note in the cast, other than the very attractive love interest Sarah Wright (previously butchered in Scream 4). The true “stars” of 21 & Over are the writer/director team Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. The twosome penned The Hangover and can’t seem to shake the blueprint. They seem to believe Asians are inherently funny (see Mr. Chow), women have one purpose only and party lifestyle leads to enlightenment. Thankfully, the leads are a bit more substantial than the empty vessels of Project X.
The film’s message –problems tend to solve themselves- is a dangerous one, not to mention the notion that alcohol-fueled binges are consequence-free. Either my enjoyment of this kind of movies has diminished with age or youth oriented entertainment it’s getting dumber. Likely, both. Two passed out prairie dogs.
