Incoming

This movie comes across as every 80s movie wrapped into one and not in a good way. If you grew up with the 80s movies or have made your way through them watching with your parents one evening when they were feeling nostalgic, you'll be able to pick out bits and pieces from every single one of them. Mesh them all together and you end up with this copy-cat. Nothing original and a less than exciting music score. On the other hand, it would make a great series for pre-teens and middle-schoolers who have yet to experience what high school is really like. Maybe Netflix was testing the water with this on. Go ahead. It'll probably be popular with Gen Alpha. Everybody likes to say they are like Gen X anyway.

The first 30 minutes aren't that good but it's getting better and at the end it's a lot better than expected. It feels like a teen movie like every other but there are lot's of thinks that I would have expected totally different. It's not like normally when the absolute nerds get lucky once and have the night of their lives. Those are normal kids (played by actual teen actors) that are actually doing pretty well. There's some actually pretty interesting side stories. The friend group doesn't have the classical storyline of having a fight and getting back together to get the girl. It's not everybody chasing after that popular girl. The teacher seems to actually be cool with personal problems. The main character doesn't get beaten up like normally. The sister has character development. The main character isn't perfect and the one side character actually grows balls. In my opinion often different than expected. But. Still based on the standard story for such movies. It may be a little over the top. It will make you cringe sometimes. And it's no movie to watch with the family. Recommend to watch for single boys from 12 to 25.

It's only IP sequels and reboots.. but this was original and actually pretty funny for what it is.. a netflix original. It's not often we see comedies push boundaries in these times like 'Superbad' or any other early '00's film. It pushed most boundaries where comedies don't do go anymore in some scenes which was surprising and actually got a laugh from me. The main four (who I thought were going to be annoying) were actually pretty funny, it felt more solid than 'Good boys' in my opinion. The story was generic but the side characters make up for the whole setting. Give it a watch on a weekend as a popcorn movie and not overthink it as a high rated comedy but a good laugh guaranteed.

Incoming is a Netflix movie created, written and directed by Chernin brothers, the same guys behind the series The Mick. The storyline follows four high school freshmen boys Mason Thomas, Ramon Reed, Raphael Alejandro, and Bardia Seiri. The first week of school Koosh's brother is throwing a big bash at his place. Mason who plays Benj has the hots for Bailey (Isabella Ferreira) and the party is the perfect chance for him to get to know her better. This is a combination of several teen movies much like Superbad, American Pie and any other teen movie. Bobby Cannavale played Mr. Studebaker the chemistry teacher who ended up attending the teen party and getting wasted. The end of the credits there is a short reel with him. Coincidentally there were a few actors from The Mick who had cameos which include Kaitlin Olsen, Thomas Barbusca, and Scott MacArthur. The movie covers the current teen topics of catcalling, drugs, and validation. I got to say I enjoyed this movie, it's been a while and but it isn't something I would watch again.

Plot

Four freshmen navigate the terrors of adolescence at their first-ever high school party.

Cast

Mason "The Black Phone" Thames arguably leads and flanked by the likes of veteran Bobby Cannavale who is on incredible form here! Always Sunny star Kaitlin Olson and a bunch of kids I'm not familiar with though deliver for the most part especially Isabella Ferreira.

Verdict

In a rare decision to watch something that's not a horror movie I picked Incoming for movie night and figured based on the description it would be something in the vein of Good Boys (2019) which I enjoyed considerably more than I expected. Well, I was right even though it's not on quite the same level.

Putting kids into the same adult situations while telling a bit of a goofy coming of age story Incoming delivers the laughs, an element of gross out humor, some touching moments and a mostly decent cast.

The older I get the harder I am to please but especially harder to make laugh and that's why I seem to have distanced myself from the entire comedy genre, thankfully Incoming renewed my faith a bit. It's hardly art, but it provides giggles and sometimes that's all we need.

Rants

The US movies always present a very different world than in the UK. When I was a kid there were no "First high school parties", house parties on the scale of these movies simply weren't a thing and you know what else wasn't? Proms! The UK isn't known for that, sure there are some these days but I never got to experience that. On the flipside at least my high school experience involved zero fear of being shot, so there's that.

The Good

Cast deliver Isabella Ferreira and Bobby Cannavale were great Some genuinely funny moments

The Bad

Bit cliched in places Not convinced by that final scene Kaitlin Olson.