By JASON GUYER
iRate
Ah, what it was like coming of age.
Coming of age films are filmmaking staple, often coming in two types: The serious, like “Stand By Me,” or the funny, like “American Pie.”
Each generation has their own version. Mine is “American Pie,” even though I was not a fan of them.
Other generations have films like “Animal House.” This generation finally gets its own in the form of “Blockers,” a heady and far funnier iteration than the raunch comedy of its generational predecessors.
“Blockers” is the story of Julie (Kathryn Newton), Kayla (Geraldine Viswanathan) and Sam (Gideon Adlon), three high school seniors that make a pact and set out to lose their virginity on prom night.
Lisa (Leslie Mann), Mitchell (John Cena) and Hunter (Ike Barinholtz) are three parents who are overprotective in their own ways and aim to stop the three teenagers when they find out their plan.
The three parents get together and embark on a wild and chaotic quest to stop the girls.
It’s a scenario rife with comedic high points, from John Cena’s butt-chugging scenario to parents’ break-in during a spicing up of the marital life scene.
Newton is a rising star in the film and television industry, a career path that has has her playing amateur / professional golf to playing Claire Novak in the popular television show “Supernatural,” eventually landing the actress and her character in “Wayward Sisters,” their own spinoff of “Supernatural.”
Newton is the right person to carry a generational coming-of-age comedy like “Blockers.”
Newton portrays the character of Julie and carries the message that her character delivers in “Blockers” with the inspiring grace it deserves.
The other prominent and memorable acting is Cena, one who I always felt was an unskilled and underwhelming actor — just watch “The Marine” and you will understand.
In “Blocker,” though, Cena is perfect for the role he is cast and in is the funniest character that carries much of the humor in the film.
Butt-chugging aside, just the contrast of his character is wonderfully unconventional.
The character of Mitchell is an overly emotional and ultra competitive parent, often portrayed as opposing ideals in film.
Cena’s character has both traits working so well together that you forget he is John Cena and stop expecting him to don the large chains and shorts from his wrestling days.
Add in that seeing a man of Cena’s proportions openly weeping for much of the movie is both humorous and uplifting.
The biggest upside to “Blockers” is the style of humor. Unlike “American Pie” whose sole comedic tool is raunch comedy, “Blockers” hits many layers of comedy.
Yes, there is some raunchy comedy, yet it is done in a more tasteful and less womanizing and objectifying way.
Raunchy comedy is not often my go-to comedic style — I am more of a slapstick or dry witty comedy person — but that does not mean that the other style can’t be good.
When done right it is as funny as any other style. “Blockers” gets it right.
It balances comedic purpose and burgeoning societal conventions that have defined the past year. Most of what could be considered raunchy comedy is done in an offhand way and hardly ever completely directed at a sex or group of people.
“Blockers” makes me want to switch generations and generational comedies. Where “American Pie” had it all wrong and was geared to a male perspective, “Blockers” takes the same situations and does them right and from the female perspective.
“Blockers” is a once-in-a-generation comedy that truly is the “American Pie” for the feminist generation.
IRATE SCORE: 3/5
Jason Guyer is an avid moviegoer and works in the Graphics Department at the Eagle Times. For questions or comments he can be emailed at [email protected]
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