Project X review...

We have all heard about American parties, mainly from popular movies. High school kids inviting their whole school around when their parents go away, not just having a few drinks but rather Keg’s of beer and endless amounts of spirits. A party any 18 year old would love to be invited to; well maybe Project X might just provide you with some inspiration.

Producer Todd Philips (Director of The Hangover) hasn’t just brought this movie to our cinema screens, but with it shot in first person, more like we are at the party experiencing it ourselves!

Some may have been skeptical when first hearing about Project X. Over the years, there have been some excellent teen/party films. Looking back, there has been American Pie, Van Wilder, Eurotrip, Roadtrip, Superbad and The Hangover. The list really does go on and on. Does Project X bring anything different to it? No, nothing especially different. But it really didn’t have to with seemingly films of this genre still very popular among audiences, especially with some calling it ‘The Hangover for teenagers!’

The movie starts out the way you would expect. 3 geeks meeting up and going to school. The 3 characters, Thomas (Thomas Mann), Costa (Oliver Cooper) and JB (Jonathan Daniel Brown) are no different characters to what we have seen before. Thomas, the Shy geek, Costa, the over exaggerated guy who thinks he is popular already geek and JB, the chubby geek who has very little luck with the girls, along with their weird ‘friend’ Dax, who is shooting the footage for them.

Thomas’ Birthday just so happens to fall on his parent’s anniversary, and while they thought it would be nice to get away for the weekend, they really didn’t think it through, mostly because Thomas’ dad (Peter Mackenzie) doesn’t think his son has it in him to do anything out of line. Little did he know every parent’s nightmare was about to come to life for him.

Though Thomas was unconvinced about throwing such a party, JB and especially Costa do not accept this. While they swear that it will only be very small and intimate, they try and get as many people as possible to turn up, using social network sites and even the radio and soon after the party starts it gets wildly out of control and the only thing to do is go with it and hope to have some fun along the way!

Lets be honest, people might slate Project X for lack of story, lack of character development, even lack of cinematography. This film was made simply to show one of, if not the best high school party of all time (At least in the movies anyway). It involves alcohol, friends and sex. There really isn’t much more to it. The movie hasn’t been released to stir our emotions like The Notebook or P.S I love you!

That said, something does have to be said about movie newcomers Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper and Jonathan Daniel Brown. They stepped into their characters and really did play them brilliantly. Michael Cera and Jonas Hill, characters from Superbad, though known for films before the hit movie, enhanced their reputation into cult status and that could very well be the case here for the main cast of Project X! We might just see them a lot on our screens in the future!

With any ‘party’ film, something, which is so important, is the soundtrack to it and the soundtrack for Project X was outstanding. With artists such as D12 and Kid Cudi and Kanye West really gave that party feel which was so important. Mixing that and the first person cinematography it really did make it feel like you were there at the party yourself (All you need to do is get a few beers!)

Combining the soundtrack, the cast and the first person experience, it really makes Project X a great party film, and with a very witty screenplay, it truly is a laugh a minute film. When reviews say it is every teens dream and every parent’s nightmare that is no exaggeration! Project X is definitely recommended as a must see!