I've long been a defender of the Rogen/Goldberg brand of humor, as they've delivered consistently funny, wildly original films for the last several years. Even with some disparaging their style as needlessly profane and reliant on sex and drugs, they've crafted a series of genuinely hilarious and often remarkably sweet movies, whether that's in a directing, producing, or starring capacity. For Blockers, the latest from their Point Grey label, Rogen and Goldberg have opted to take a step back, bringing in Pitch Perfect screenwriter Kay Cannon to make her directorial debut. Working from a script by relative newcomers Brian and Jim Kehoe, Cannon's first feature behind the camera brings a fresh perspective and some wonderful comic energy to this particular brand of R-rated madness. It may be about a trio of parents trying to stop their kids from having sex, but Blockers is as progressive as a teen comedy can be in 2018, sharp and clever and deeply cognizant of the social politics that exist around this topic.
And did I mention that it's funny as hell? Not only is Blockers acutely aware of the social climate in 2018, but it also has a knack for finely-tuned jokes that work like a charm. Seriously, this one tickled my funny bone in a major (and often unexpected) way. By applying the sense of domestic bliss and suburban cheeriness that was so successful in Neighbors to a different story of generational conflict, Cannon and the Kehoes have crafted another laugh out loud comedy machine with a good-natured, surprisingly pure core. Keeping in line with many mainstream comedies devoted to big emotional beats and tidiness, Blockers runs into a bit of a wall when it wraps up its narrative threads with a nice bow. But even with that minor quibble, Cannon's directorial debut still mostly sticks the landing, resulting in a comedy that is satisfying on virtually every level.
For kids on the cusp of adulthood, prom night is a dream. Thanks to beautiful dresses, perfect pictures, and lots of alcohol and weed, this is a night to celebrate with your friends and end the nightmare of school with a spectacular bang. It's also the perfect night to lose your virginity- at least, that's what Julie (Kathryn Newton), Kayla (Geraldine Viswanathan), and Sam (Gideon Adlon) think. When Julie announces her plan to have sex with her boyfriend (Graham Phillips) of six months, Kayla and Sam decide to hook up with their dates as well (even though Sam is actually in the closet). The result is a prom night sex pact, one that seems destined to culminate in an experience that they'll never forget. But not if their parents have anything to say about it.
Lisa (Leslie Mann), Julie's mother and a struggling single parent, is in no way prepared to send her daughter to college in the fall. She's hoping for Julie to attend school in nearby Chicago, but she's struggling to control her daughter's desire to travel across the country to UCLA. Mitchell (John Cena) is your typical suburban alpha dad- hugely protective and maybe even a bit naive about the realities of sex and womanhood. And then there's Hunter (Ike Barinholtz), Sam's estranged father and a bit of a party animal, who gained notoriety in the neighborhood for cheating on his wife. When Lisa and Mitchell accidentally learn of their daughters' plan thanks to an open laptop, they immediately jump into action. Hunter goes along after some convincing, and they embark on a quest to keep their beloved daughters from making a huge mistake. Meanwhile, the six teens have an adventure of their own. Insanity, absurdity, and butt-chugging madness ensue.
Right off the bat, the most noteworthy element of Blockers is the absolutely ridiculous ensemble, so thoroughly stacked with comedic talent that other all-star casts can't even compare. From the domineering parents to the reckless kids, everyone is at the top of their game here. John Cena, playing perhaps the epitome of the white suburban dad, is a downright revelation, capturing Mitchell's dim-witted macho posturing and fractured emotions without missing a beat. With his gigantic frame and his phone clipped to the belt of his cargo shorts, Cena is game for absolutely anything, and he has a future in this genre if he wants it. I just hope that he doesn't pull a Zac Efron and take every R-rated comedy role that will inevitably be thrown his way. Being selective is good. We were all already aware of the talents of Leslie Mann and Ike Barinholtz before Blockers ever premiered, but it's nice to see these excellent actors take the center stage for once. Mann's blend of earnest joy and subtle crudeness is perfect for this role, and you really feel for Lisa, even if none of her actions make any sense at all. Neighbors breakout Barinholtz also has the right stuff for his character, nailing the tear-jerking monologues while simultaneously emerging as the film's most wickedly funny wild card.
But how good are the kids in this movie? Kathryn Newton, already a rising star thanks to HBO's Big Little Lies and the one-two punch of Three Billboards and Lady Bird, is the film's terrific anchor as Julie, sweet and kind and willing to put up with her mom's nonsense (to a certain degree). In an amusing way, Newton is still upstaged by Geraldine Viswanathan and Gideon Adlon, who have the more overtly comedic supporting roles. Both relatively new on the Hollywood scene, Viswanathan and Adlon manage to stand out even in a cast with some serious star power. Viswanathan's sarcastic delivery and Adlon's awkward energy make the whole trio click, and I'll be surprised if they don't get more roles from here. The boys (played by Miles Robbins, Graham Phillips, and Jimmy Bellinger) have less to do, but they get a few moments to shine as well.
Even with a great cast, it's Cannon and the Kehoes who really tie the whole thing together. Despite its decidedly blunt approach to both sexual politics and emotional crescendos, the script is loaded with A-grade material, a wonderful mixture of gasp-inducing vulgarity and subversive intelligence. In the end, Blockers is both downright nuts and filled with genuine empathy for its characters, whether they're making the right decisions or not. Cannon takes the narrative framework of the script and paces the whole thing to perfection, rarely allowing for a lag in the action or even a moderately dull moment. At 102 minutes, Blockers is not a second too long or too short, and that kind of surgical precision is hugely impressive. Cannon finds an impeccable balance not just between the parents and the kids, but between every character in the movie. Nothing feels underdeveloped or disappointingly thin- Blockers hits the mark.
Even if it sometimes lacks the visual innovation of the party scenes in Neighbors or seems too determined to explain each nuanced character beat, Cannon's film is a wildly entertaining juggling act. Blockers is a great new spin on the teen comedy, the rare film that manages to be both remarkably wise and breathtakingly dirty. A simple setup, some serious raunchiness, and the announcement of three comedic filmmaking talents- what more could you possibly want? Blockers delivers the goods.
THE FINAL GRADE: B+ (8/10)
Poster courtesy of Universal Pictures
Images: Universal/IMDb
And did I mention that it's funny as hell? Not only is Blockers acutely aware of the social climate in 2018, but it also has a knack for finely-tuned jokes that work like a charm. Seriously, this one tickled my funny bone in a major (and often unexpected) way. By applying the sense of domestic bliss and suburban cheeriness that was so successful in Neighbors to a different story of generational conflict, Cannon and the Kehoes have crafted another laugh out loud comedy machine with a good-natured, surprisingly pure core. Keeping in line with many mainstream comedies devoted to big emotional beats and tidiness, Blockers runs into a bit of a wall when it wraps up its narrative threads with a nice bow. But even with that minor quibble, Cannon's directorial debut still mostly sticks the landing, resulting in a comedy that is satisfying on virtually every level.
For kids on the cusp of adulthood, prom night is a dream. Thanks to beautiful dresses, perfect pictures, and lots of alcohol and weed, this is a night to celebrate with your friends and end the nightmare of school with a spectacular bang. It's also the perfect night to lose your virginity- at least, that's what Julie (Kathryn Newton), Kayla (Geraldine Viswanathan), and Sam (Gideon Adlon) think. When Julie announces her plan to have sex with her boyfriend (Graham Phillips) of six months, Kayla and Sam decide to hook up with their dates as well (even though Sam is actually in the closet). The result is a prom night sex pact, one that seems destined to culminate in an experience that they'll never forget. But not if their parents have anything to say about it.
Right off the bat, the most noteworthy element of Blockers is the absolutely ridiculous ensemble, so thoroughly stacked with comedic talent that other all-star casts can't even compare. From the domineering parents to the reckless kids, everyone is at the top of their game here. John Cena, playing perhaps the epitome of the white suburban dad, is a downright revelation, capturing Mitchell's dim-witted macho posturing and fractured emotions without missing a beat. With his gigantic frame and his phone clipped to the belt of his cargo shorts, Cena is game for absolutely anything, and he has a future in this genre if he wants it. I just hope that he doesn't pull a Zac Efron and take every R-rated comedy role that will inevitably be thrown his way. Being selective is good. We were all already aware of the talents of Leslie Mann and Ike Barinholtz before Blockers ever premiered, but it's nice to see these excellent actors take the center stage for once. Mann's blend of earnest joy and subtle crudeness is perfect for this role, and you really feel for Lisa, even if none of her actions make any sense at all. Neighbors breakout Barinholtz also has the right stuff for his character, nailing the tear-jerking monologues while simultaneously emerging as the film's most wickedly funny wild card.
But how good are the kids in this movie? Kathryn Newton, already a rising star thanks to HBO's Big Little Lies and the one-two punch of Three Billboards and Lady Bird, is the film's terrific anchor as Julie, sweet and kind and willing to put up with her mom's nonsense (to a certain degree). In an amusing way, Newton is still upstaged by Geraldine Viswanathan and Gideon Adlon, who have the more overtly comedic supporting roles. Both relatively new on the Hollywood scene, Viswanathan and Adlon manage to stand out even in a cast with some serious star power. Viswanathan's sarcastic delivery and Adlon's awkward energy make the whole trio click, and I'll be surprised if they don't get more roles from here. The boys (played by Miles Robbins, Graham Phillips, and Jimmy Bellinger) have less to do, but they get a few moments to shine as well.
Even with a great cast, it's Cannon and the Kehoes who really tie the whole thing together. Despite its decidedly blunt approach to both sexual politics and emotional crescendos, the script is loaded with A-grade material, a wonderful mixture of gasp-inducing vulgarity and subversive intelligence. In the end, Blockers is both downright nuts and filled with genuine empathy for its characters, whether they're making the right decisions or not. Cannon takes the narrative framework of the script and paces the whole thing to perfection, rarely allowing for a lag in the action or even a moderately dull moment. At 102 minutes, Blockers is not a second too long or too short, and that kind of surgical precision is hugely impressive. Cannon finds an impeccable balance not just between the parents and the kids, but between every character in the movie. Nothing feels underdeveloped or disappointingly thin- Blockers hits the mark.
Even if it sometimes lacks the visual innovation of the party scenes in Neighbors or seems too determined to explain each nuanced character beat, Cannon's film is a wildly entertaining juggling act. Blockers is a great new spin on the teen comedy, the rare film that manages to be both remarkably wise and breathtakingly dirty. A simple setup, some serious raunchiness, and the announcement of three comedic filmmaking talents- what more could you possibly want? Blockers delivers the goods.
THE FINAL GRADE: B+ (8/10)
Poster courtesy of Universal Pictures
Images: Universal/IMDb
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