Comedy Pick: 21 & Over
The boom of the gross-out frat pack set may have taken a sabbatical, but that’s not to say there’s no mileage left on the old gal. While messrs Ferrell, Stiller, Vaughn, Wilson, Segel and Rudd have taken time out from courting each other via smutty bromance, the gauntlet has been passed to a younger generation.
21 & Over eagerly grabs the frat comedy baton and runs with it. Emulating the “all in one night” premise of cinema gone by, this time the outlandish shenanigans of a trio of college kids direct the drunken goings on. To be truthful, dear readers, I too was skeptical. And then, low and behold, it turned out to actually be quite funny.
The story goes like this. Two lifelong buddies Casey (Skylar Astin) and Miller (Miles Teller) are determined to take their buddy Jeff Chang (Justin Chon) out for his 21st birthday – the night of which happens to fall hours before a big medical school interview. Embracing the rite-of-passage to its fullest extent, Jeff proceeds to get thoroughly hammered. His clothes come flying off and he loses control of his major bodily functions. It’s chaos at its most fun.
Anyone who’s ever tried to coerce an address from a drunken friend before flinging them into a taxi and off into the night will appreciate the cute twist in the tale. Casey and Miller have to locate their unconscious friend’s address, as Jeff provides absolutely not help. Cue an Adventures In Babysitting-style series of pratfalls.
From the writers of The Hangover, it’d be easy to assume they found their niche and simply shifted it to a younger demographic. Darting from bars, frat houses, to sorority initiations, the trio are elevated above the cliches they could have been by excitable performances. Miles Teller’s loud-mouthed, fast-talkin’ scamp just about wins you over, despite his incessant shouting. Skylar Astin is the heart of the story, the loveable geek who’s still got a bit of gritty verve (he’s good at beer pong, doncha know), and Justin Chon will make you truly believe he was inebriated for the entirety of the shoot.
It’s not rocket science to anticipate the outcome of their wacky setup. It’s just a hell of a lot of fun to watch.