Project X review

                                       

         If “Project X” was to have a point, then clearly the writers and director have missed the mark by a long shot. As if there needs to be a point by watching a party go out of control for 86 minutes, “Project X” has the impudence of being “the party we’ve never seen”(only half of that statement is mildly true). As it coasts throughout the film while shamelessly and exploitatively taking the audience through a party they can only see, but not actually enjoy. Once realized by the halfway mark, there is no actual point to the film. Like an action film -- without any point or cohesive it’s supposed to make -- it’s here to "razzle-dazzle" the movie-going public and gives them 86 minutes of pure unadulterated, trashy, kinky, loathsome fun. But, would it be worth the price of an admission ticket to see a party than to actually go to a party?

    If “Girls Gone Wild” was edited down for a theatrical movie, and had a story following a trio of dumb, sex-starved teenagers on a crusade to have sex and be popular, then this is that movie. But if the intent is to make a series MTV-music video montages of hot girls being topless, underage drinking, destruction, debauchery etc., why place some of the most annoying, one-note characters to hit the screen of 2012 as the main forefront of the film? By thirty minutes in, the last thing the movie is concerned about is any characters or story. Yet, the film quickly is forced to change its focus to some of the most blandest characterizations of teens in a teen-sex comedy (I use the term “comedy” very loosely here). The worst thing about a film that has bad elements is its unknown direction and alternating a mixture of both “good” and “bad” elements.

Todd Philips (producer) certainly has his money in making these hardcore party comedies, and while his "Hangover" films are better than this, he’s got his hand in the market. Without hesitant, with the introduction of Costa (Oliver Cooper) as pubertal, sex-craved, depraved adolescent teenager with his friend Dax (Dax Flame) as they intent on documenting Costa’s best friend Thomas (Thomas Mann) 17th birthday as they hope to throw the “craziest" party known to man. As Thomas is hesitant to the idea, he eventually caves in as his parents are away for the weekend, and with the help of their overweight friend J.B. (Jonathan Daniel Brown). However, as expected, more people start to show up then expected and it soon turns out to be a wild ruckus as its third act goes into absurd levels of insanity, but like any great, wild party, it was great while it lasted (and like a day after a party, this movie will be just as forgettable, if not, gone from memory).

    This film follows a rigid path that it’s hard to dismiss it as total "trash." There are few moments of funny bits where it does become amusing. The highlight joke probably has to be two 12-year olds as they are hired by Costa to be security and keep alert of anything crashing the party. Their bits of comedy was surprisingly entertaining to watch as well as the far and few between moments of dialogue between the shy-innocent Thomas and a over-zealous deranged Costa as they try to reassure themselves that nothing will go wrong. By the time something does go wrong, things get more interesting than the party. This film is equivalent to a baby having a bunch of keys being dangled in front of him; all done to amuse and make him laugh. As the party goes on, there is nothing to laugh about except the satisfaction of seeing these contemptible people get their comeuppance in the end. Even as party scenes go, the numbness begins to fill the air and sooner, all little enjoyment is sucked out the room and forcing the audience to go on auto-pilot with the movie trying to extend any shambles of a plot to be had. Even as the party rages on, further and further into absolute filth, it tries to make the characters and the story the forefront when clearly the filmmakers were more interested in showing the skin and the wild crowd turning the house into a dump overnight. It’s a sign of no direction for the film to head in. It tires by randomly jumping from perspectives to slickly cover its problems of a poorly constructed script.

          As far as character types go in a teen comedy, “Project X” delivers some of the weakest and most incorrigible characters to hit the screens of 2012. The moment any of these characters are on screen, anything resembling of comedy is replaced by repugnant dialogue, zany characterizations and worst of all, the constant, incessant ramblings and actions of a madmen (Costa) on the verge of literally “exploding from too much enjoyment." Imagine a sex addicted maniac on a bender without any leash to control him. It almost ruins the movie the way Costa and others have to constantly shove their face in the camera to act like caricatures of horny teenagers. By the beginning, there are amusing moments between the trio of stooges with their over-the-top dialogue as they try to pull the plan off without a hitch and the unexpected doom looming and waiting to happen to them, but as the party wears out, so does the film’s steam and all can be left is the hope of anything to “wow” the audience. The payoff can be expected, and while it does provide for some visual dazzles in an empty film, it’s too short and too late to redeem the film from the gutter.

    Project X was filmed in what can now be considered it’s own genre. The technique to film it as a “found footage” film gives it some authenticity, but as far as characters go, this are far from being realistic or even relating to real life teen angst. But as far as going in a new direction with the genre of “found footage” and breaking away from being anything supernatural and just focusing on a wild party that goes wrong while following three archetypes of the teen comedy goes, “Project X” makes the clear point throughout that it’s despicably cheeky, uncompromisingly indefensible, and an 86 minute drug-induced headache of images and flashes made to entertain the average attention span of a child. “Project X” is more comparable to watching a great, wild party in the back of the room with nothing to do but watch and get a thrill out of it.

                                         Rating: D-             by Amritpa Rai