'21 and Over' Review: Same 'Hangover,' Different Blackout [Trailer]
There comes a time in everyone's life when they reach the legal drinking age and there are some who celebrate it as any other birthday while others take the event a bit more seriously.
This rite of passage is the focus of the drunken comedy 21 and Over.
The film takes place at a college that plays host to student Jeff Chang (Justin Chon), who is forced to sacrifice his social life due to a hectic school schedule. His friends Casey (Skylar Astin) and Miller (Miles Teller) join him after a few years of separation from high school to show Chang an unforgettable time for his 21st birthday.
The celebration is not all beer pong and Jager Bombs as Chang's father (François Chau) tries to keep his son in line for a crucial medical school interview scheduled for the morning after.
Chang reluctantly joins his friends on a night of bar-hopping with scenes of utter drunkenness that escalate with every block. Casey and Miller eventually find themselves in a strange neighborhood with their birthday buddy passed out and no idea where he lives. The rest of the evening plays out as a frantic search for Chang's home and a race against time to return him before his scheduled interview.
The problems get progressively worse as they run afoul of Latina sorority sisters, male cheerleaders and Chang's threatening father. The events of the evening lead to Casey and Miller uncovering a dark mystery about their friend that seems to deal with the extreme pressure put on students.
There is a strong racial tone that primarily plays on stereotypes of pushy Asian parents, with Chang's father taking the stern parent persona to the extreme. There is a definite Hangover feel that is to be expected from directors Scott Moore and Jon Lucas, who previously collaborated in writing the titular drunk comedy. Much of the larger plot points feel borrowed from other genre pieces but the film keeps viewers entertained in its own way.
The off-the-wall hijinks and unforgettable moments make it stand out on its own as an enjoyable experience but it is hard to not feel like a majority of the material has been played out to the point of absurdity.
21 and Over is a booze-filled comedic odyssey that is at its funniest when Chang is at his drunkest.
Grade: B
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 1:30
