If you like your movies stupid, loud, crude and profane, with a touch of racism and misogyny as extra flavouring, the new comedy 21 and Over is just about right.
Everyone else should stay away, especially those who take offence at scenes of bare-ass exhibitionism.
21 and Over is the clownish work of writing partners Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. They grabbed Hollywood's brass ring by writing The Hangover for director Todd Phillips. It earned $467 million in worldwide boxoffice. With that success and some ambition, Lucas and Moore now make their inevitable directorial debuts, working from a script they co-wrote themselves. But 21 and Over lacks the sophistication of The Hangover, even if it hits many of the same beats and often bangs the same drum in terms of overall plot.
Here is the rub: Phillips' experience with crass comedies such as Road Trip and Old School showed by the time he got to The Hangover in 2009. He was able to balance the profane with some poignancy as the movie's bromance buddies got hammered in Las Vegas and had to figure out later what happened during their night of debauchery.
In the new movie, Lucas and Moore show their inexperience as co-directors. Their movie has no balance. The profane is plenty but the "poignancy" is delivered as slobbering sentimentality as these bromance buddies try to salvage their friendships during their night of debauchery. There is no mystery. We see each disgusting episode, step by step.
There are three buddies in 21 and Over. They are familiar types. The medical school hopeful (Justin Chon) has just turned 21. His two best friends show up for celebration drinks. One is a fast-talking racist jackass (Miles Teller). The other is a good-natured and good-looking geek (Skylar Astin). Despite protestations from the pre-med student -- because his overbearing doctor father has arranged an life-changing interview for him early the next morning -- the three end up partying all night. But they are on the clock. Daddy is due at 7 a.m.
21 and Over does have unexpected plot twists, but it is still a gross-out. And some of the sappy stuff will probably annoy people who just wants the drunken hijinks, brief flashes of female breasts and the general mayhem.
The problem is the mediocre movie itself. Animal House is a classic of this genre. 21 and Over is nowhere near its gold standard for crass college comedies.
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