Mardi Gras: Spring Break

"Mardi Gras: Spring Break" seemed to be yet another of those mass-produced teen comedies with movie covers that all look scarily similar to one another. Despite that, I decided to sit down and watch the movie.

Having seen it now, it was not as I had initially thought it to be. The movie was actually enjoyable and had a good enough storyline, though there wasn't anything new to be seen here.

There were moments in the movie where I was laughing, especially the scene in the hotel with the over-sized turd. That had me laughing so hard.

The people they had cast for the movie were actually doing quite well. Nicholas D'Agosto (playing Mike), Josh Gad (playing Bump) and Bret Harrison (playing Scottie) were having great comedy on the screen and they worked well together. It was nice to see Regina Hall (playing Ann Marie) in the movie, despite it was only for a small supporting role. Of course the name to look at in this movie was Carmen Electra (playing herself). Now, I can't say that I am a fan of her in any way, so I didn't think it was a big deal to see her in the movie. One guy that cracked me up in the movie was Charles Shaughnessy (playing Barry, the Château Clerk), he was hilarious in that role.

"Mardi Gras: Spring Break" provided good enough entertainment for an evening's worth, but I doubt that it is a movie that I will ever make a second return to watch. It was funny at moments, but the movie was not making an overly lasting impression.

If you got no other plans and want to see a comedy, "Mardi Gras: Spring Break" is well worth a watch, if you have no other movie choices at hand.

I'd like to think of myself as a veteran of these types of films, I am only 18, but I have seen the majority of the movies in this genre, from American pie to roadtrip, animal house to old school and vandwilder to the hangover.

Mardi Gras: Spring Break is a real solid effort and an enjoyable film. It me be a B grade straight to DVD film but don't let this turn you off. If you are into College party, teen sex and crude comedy then you should enjoy this film. The acting is surprisingly good, the story may not be original but is still interesting and familiar to a younger crowd, I can't really think of a negative thing to say about this movie but I will say its not the best movie like this but its definitely not bad.

If you feel like getting pumped for going out and partying or are just a long time fan of party movies then I would definitely recommend Mardi Gras: Spring Break.

Most certainly juvenile (and sometimes gross-out) fun, but fun nonetheless for a little mindless movie time. The fact that Arielle Kebbel is in it was a definite draw for me. She's great in pretty much everything she's ever been in.

Interesting that the front DVD cover bills Carmen Electra as the film's main attraction. She is the most recognisable name in the cast, for sure, but ultimately is only a bit player in the story of four college dudes on the very stereotypical road trip to Mardi Gras in New Orleans for Spring Break. Of course, they're going there largely to get with girls. As you probably gathered.

The gross-out gags are plentiful, but, also, they are balanced by the scenes that show genuine heart. Kind of the American Pie way of doing things, tried and true.

(I liked that the film spotlighted the real Mardi Gras as well)

"Mardi Gras" makes the audacious choice of putting its worst scene at the beginning: you know how sex comedies have to start with a big set piece, one huge laugh that pulls you in and never lets you go? Well, "Mardi Gras" starts with an elderly couple we'll never see again remembering their first Mardi Gras, which very predictably turns into an overly explicit conversation about sex. I've seen and heard some horrid things in this subgenre, but an elderly woman literally just describing how her husband ejaculated on her breasts, without an actual joke in sight? Not how you lure me in. It's only like a thirty- second vignette, but it easily feels like thirty minutes. Who writes this and honestly thinks he's struck gold? Oh, we'll get two elderly actors and write some sex-related words on a napkin, maybe it'll be funny by accident. It won't.

I'm glad to say that's the only cringe-inducing scene in the movie, it doesn't have laugh-out-loud moments but I got through it fairly well. "Mardi Gras" is hurt though by the fact that its plot just hobbles along. It starts of with two losers who can't get a girlfriend (not saying "boobs" in every sentence could help), then they turn on the TV and it's a report on Mardi Gras in New Orleans. So uh...let's go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans! If that's all the effort you're going to do to set this up, why not just start the movie at Mardi Gras? The lack of stakes also makes it difficult to connect: Bret Harrison was a believable nerd in "Grounded For Life", but even there he got the girl fairly quickly. We're honestly supposed to buy him as a desperate, 25-year-old virgin? Would have made a lot more sense to reserve that subplot for the obese friend who's desperately trying to be Jonah Hill. The movie quickly deteriorates into a collection of barely related sketches, which are occasionally good for a chuckle but never add anything to the meager story.

There is a saving grace though: Nicholas D'Agosto and Arielle Kebbel have a very natural style in their acting, and though their story is highly predictable it didn't really bother me. They both have likable characters, which is kind of a rarity in "American Pie" rip- offs. Hell, most of them don't even have characters. They really have great chemistry, I wish the movie didn't waste that much time in Carmen Electra's (does she ever refuse a role?) hotel room or showing not Jonah Hill naked. Come on not Jonah Hill, I'm trying to have popcorn here. "Mardi Gras" isn't a great movie, but it's not a completely brainless sex comedy either.

I've rated it a 5 out of 10 because it's average. On the whole it wasn't very entertaining but it did have it's comedic moment's. It was a bit confusing, in the sense that it didn't 'flow' well, a bit choppy. Some of the actors/actresses were good but the majority of them were very much below average, maybe with the right actors and a few alterations within the script it might have the potential to rate a 7-8/10 - we'll have to just wait and see whether a sequel is made and whether or not it is interesting enough to watch.

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Chrisie Wood-Hopps