Summary
It’s one big party that audiences can enjoy. That is all.
Incoming arrives on Netflix as the Chernin brothers’ feature-length debut. According to the directors, the inspiration is that they witnessed a rager house party next door when they were younger and thought it was cool. Granted, it’s hardly Picasso, but the bar is low for ideas in the industry at this point.
Giving the vibe of Superbad, Incoming follows four high school freshmen who are going through an identity crisis and are determined to fit in and look cool at the dubbed “biggest house party of the year.” The centering plot point involves Benj Nielsen (Mason Thames) lusting for his crush, Bailey (Isabella Ferreira), believing he has a shot with her.
Eddie, Connor, and Danah “Koosh” Koushani (whose brother is hosting the party) are on the sidelines.
There’s nothing to spoil for Incoming — the entire movie is one big party. Once the characters are established and the goofy comedy fully flows, the rest of the time is dedicated to showcasing the antics.
And no scene will surprise anyone. If you’ve grown up with American Pie and Can’t Hardly Wait, this is just a modern version in 2024. I expected something unprecedented on show with the hype based on the directors’ experiences, but it never arrived. It really is an excuse to turn on the cameras and make as many wild, often weird scenes as possible.
Despite the lack of shock factor, Incoming is held up by its comedy. The use of the young lead actors works well. It’s full of energy. The Chernin brothers had an objective: to highlight their creativity, even with the basics of the story.
I’m all for it. Netflix is a gold mine, so if they can encourage the streaming giant to make further films on similar concepts, then they are laughing.
I was confused by Mr. Studebaker (Bobby Cannavale), a cool science teacher at the high school who decided to show up at the house party. It made me uncomfortable because I did not understand the attendance. Any movie that does this, with teachers and fully grown adults attending a party full of young teenagers, is nonsensical.
OK, you can argue the comedic side, which the teacher brings, but it lacks logic. Unless I’m missing something in American culture, I don’t know why any teacher or adult would risk getting wasted at parties like these.
I had fun with Incoming. I can imagine it would be served well by a sequel, and seeing the young cast enjoy their chemistry helped the runtime pass. But that’s it, really. It’s one big party. Nothing else.
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