Netflix’s New Teen Movie « Incoming »: A Review
American high schools are known for their iconic features: yellow school buses, homecoming, prom, and the chaotic atmosphere of the school cafeteria. With each new generation, there comes a wave of raunchy teen movies that capture the essence of high school life. « Incoming, » the latest teen film from Netflix created by Dave and John Chernin, attempts to revive the outrageous R-rated comedy genre that Hollywood sporadically produces.
- « Incoming » aims to channel the unfiltered debauchery of classics like American Pie or Superbad, catering to a new generation of high school students.
- The film focuses on a group of nerdy freshman boys navigating the challenges of high school social hierarchy.
- The plot revolves around Benj, a former theater kid trying to impress his crush, Bailey, and Koosh, who needs to prove himself to his older brother at a wild party.
- Despite capturing the raucous energy of a high school party, « Incoming » falls short in comparison to other teen comedies like « Do Revenge » and « Honor Society. »
- The film’s attempts at pushing boundaries and caricature often come across as cringeworthy rather than humorous.
- While some moments of sweetness and genuine chemistry shine through, the over-reliance on shock value and gross-out humor detracts from the overall enjoyment of the film.
Overall, « Incoming » offers a glimpse into the chaotic world of high school parties and teenage antics, but struggles to find the right balance between humor and shock value. The Chernin brothers infuse the film with elements of their signature debauchery from « It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, » but the overall execution falls short of expectations. Despite some redeeming moments, « Incoming » may leave audiences wanting more heart and less shock value in their teen comedies.
