The movie “21 and Over” is intended be a short teen comedy inspired by the same writers of “The Hangover.” However, the movie falls short of expectations compared to like-minded comedies like “Superbad” and “Project X.”
In this less than roaring comedy, the story centers on three best friends from high school in their 20s and in college. Two of the three go on a trip to surprise the third for his 21st birthday the night before his important interview for medical school. The underlying theme that college changes even the best of oldest friends holds true in this movie, as important secrets about one another start to spill out as the film transpires. However, their discoveries ultimately bring them closer together.
The film plays off of a few different stereotypes. Of three best friends, they are all dramatically different, but similar like so many friendships are. Miller is the white, funny and laid back party friend that’s always cracking jokes and takes life not so seriously, encouraging his rigid and studious friend to live it up for his 21st birthday, which just so happens to be the night before his big interview that his controlling and intense father had to pulled some major strings for him to land.
Casey is a good student. He’s on the right track to pursuing his career path and walks a straight line, fulfilling the typical four-year college plan. Casey is your average over-achiever with his goals set in place, determined and simple.
Jeff Chang, the last of the crew, comes from a strict Asian household, a normal college student expected to do well and go to medical school to honor his parents’ wishes. But that’s not what he chooses or wants for his life, and he finds himself caught between two worlds; what his parents demand of him and what he desires. Neither one of his “best” friends knew about this predicament.
In fact, this is not the only information the trio unearths that unravels as the three of them party their way throughout the movie, which ironically turns out to be not so fun as they scramble to get their inebriated 21-year-old friend back in time for his interview the next morning.
In a microscopic teen version that mimics the much funnier “Hangover,” all three best friends turn out stronger through their disastrous night of partying and their attempt to put the pieces back together when everything goes awry.
Overall, “21 and Over” was a quirky and typical teen comedy that only ran for an hour and a half, but whether it was worth paying $12 at the box office is questionable.
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mfernan3@ramapo.edu
