Grade inflationBy John DeSando, WCBE's "It's Movie Time," "Cinema Classics," and "On the Marquee"
Project X is a formulaic teen-party-while-parents-are-gone needing a young Tom Cruise or Matthew Broderick to make it memorable. It has its forgettable Michael Serra and Jonah Hill types planning a party that will transform them from geeks to gods, high school style that is.
Project X has a raunchy mess of stoner/drinker set pieces with a neighborhood party to make Stephen King's Carrie envious.
I smiled briefly at antics like hiring two twelve-year olds as security for 1000 hormonal revelers, jumping from the roof of the house to the pool below, and hoisting the family dog into the air with balloons.
There's character by stereotype and a surprise or two, especially the ending, to save this senior party from film failure.
That's grade inflation!
John DeSando co-hosts WCBE 90.5's It's Movie Time, Cinema Classics, and On the Marquee, which can be heard streaming at http://publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/ppr/index.shtml and on demand at http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/arts.artsmain