01 Mar 2013
Staff Writer
Preston Barta
Staff Writer
“21 and Over,” 93 min.
Rated R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, some graphic nudity, drugs and drinking
Written and directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore
Starring: Miles Teller, Justin Chon and Skylar Astin
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Review
“21 and Over” is the latest film from the writers of the smash hit “The Hangover” (2009). Comparatively, it is the more appalling version of that, stuffed with tasteless jokes, naughty sorority pledges and slow-motion vomit— not quite the ideal night out at the movies.
The film follows a promising college student, Jeff Chang (Chon), who on the night before a big medical school interview, celebrates his 21st birthday with his two best friends, Miller (Teller) and Casey (Astin). However, what was supposed to be a low-key evening escalates quickly and goes horribly out of control.
While I appreciated a few moments of true comedy and the energy from the actors, especially Teller who plays a motor mouthed deadbeat, like Vince Vaughn from “Swingers” (1996), it is a poorly structured comedy that is not enough to take a break from studying for your midterms and feel that it was two hours well spent. There are far greater films in theaters for that, like “Warm Bodies” and “Side Effects.”
“21 and Over” is a film that aims at college kids but winds up being a film for 10-year-olds that sneak into rated-R movies. It’s as amusing as watching a game of beer pong.
