Horny teens and helicopter parents and chaos, oh my! BLOCKERS – Review

Read Movie Review

"Horny teens and helicopter parents and chaos, oh my! BLOCKERS – Review"
John Cena, Leslie Mann and Ike Barinholtz star in Universal Pictures’ BLOCKERS © 2018

Funny filth lives!

Starting with 80’s comedy classic, PORKY’S, and all through modern classics from SUPERBAD to 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN, dudes have watched on-screen versions of dudes (like themselves) celebrate the first time they have sex. Well, it was long overdue and now it’s time for dudettes to have their shot at celebrating the story of their first time. With her directorial debut, BLOCKERS, director Kay Cannon (PITCH PERFECT series) has given birth to a timely, coming-of-age, funny-flick that takes one of the most common rites of passages and hilariously flips-the-script on a “taboo-like” double standard.

Exposing audiences to that ever-so-famous milestone we’ll never forget, BLOCKERS tells the story of three parents (Leslie Mann, John Cena, and Ike Barinholtz) stumbling upon a series of suggestive texts that unveil a sex pact among their daughters. Playing into their parental insecurities, the odd trio team up on a maniacal mission after their daughters to keep them from making what they believe is the biggest mistake of their lives. However, over the course of a crazy night of cat-and-mouse chasing, butt-chuggin’ contests, and party crashing, they begin to see their baby girls as the smart, determined, and empowered young women they’ve raised them to be.

BLOCKERS | © 2018 Universal Pictures

First things first, this movie is funny! While it may have sporadic moments that flatline, it doesn’t take away from the strength the movie has by providing exactly what it’s meant to provide: a salad-tossing of comedic dialog, scenarios, and humorous adventure smothered in raunch dressing! The helicoptering of the parents runs so well parallel to teens ready to get their freak on, you quietly cheer both teams on. With personalities as different as their parenting style, the overall stakes outweighs their paranoia as the night progressively becomes more complicated.

A timely comedy giving its narrative’s subject-matter, in some ways, there will be viewers who will watch, cringe, and translate it as a story trying to push morally correct themes. You know, the whole equality, acceptance, “We Are The World” thing? Here’s the catch… The world is full of that already. We see and hear it every day. While BLOCKERS may metaphorically represent that to a small extent, the purpose of this piece is to disengage, enjoy and laugh. A duty it succeeds with. BLOCKERS is a comedy that used a common template and made it its bitch!

__________

Grade: B | Genre: Comedy | Rated: R | Run Time: 1:42

Starring: Leslie Mann, Ike Barinholtz, John Cena

Directed by: Kay Cannon

https://www.blockersmovie.com/showtimes/

© 2018 Universal Pictures
__________