Incoming (2024)

Incoming (2024)

6/10

Starring          

Mason Thames

Ramon Reed

Bardia Seiri

Raphael Alejandro

 

Directed by Dave Chernin and John Chernin

 

This movie feels like a modern remake of Superbad, the iconic 2007 coming-of-age film. And honestly, I enjoyed it enough to give it a solid thumbs-up. It’s not groundbreaking or particularly original, but it delivers the kind of chaotic fun that makes these kinds of films worth watching.

If you’ve seen one coming-of-age movie, you’ve seen them all, but what I liked about this one was how it didn’t waste time on drawn out backstories or slow build-ups. The plot kicks off almost immediately, spiraling into a series of wild, and often ridiculous events that kept me entertained. At one point, there’s even a literal “shit-show” you’ve got to see it to believe it.

I can see why some people might not like it, especially if they’re big fans of Superbad and feel like this doesn’t measure up. I agree Superbad did do it better, but I think there’s still room for people to appreciate how this movie handles its dual storylines. Watching the characters deal with their individual struggles while chaos seems to unfold on two different fronts was funny.

The story centers on four high school freshmen. First, there’s Benj, who’s crushing hard on his sister’s best friend and will do just about anything to win her over. Then there’s Eddie, a laid-back guy who has to deal with his mom’s awful boyfriend, who treats him like a doormat in his own house. Connor is the smallest of the group and always feels invisible. The last of the four is Danah, the crazy one of the bunch, who dreams of becoming legendary like his elder brother.

The chaos begins when Danah’s older brother, Koosh, invites him to a party and says he can bring his friends. But on the big night, Koosh changes his mind, saying only one of his friends can come in. This caused some drama. Benj insists he should be the one to go, hoping for a chance to impress his crush. Eddie and Connor are furious with Danah for not standing up to Koosh, and they storm off, leaving Benj and Danah to tackle the party alone.

So, at the party we see Benj try to confess his feelings to his sister’s best friend, and Danah traps a girl in a room, lying to her that there is no way out, with the hope that the time alone together with her will result in him getting laid.

Meanwhile, Eddie and Connor steal Eddie’s mom’s boyfriend’s car and set off on their own unforgettable night. Their adventure was just as entertaining as the one of Benj and Danah at the party.

In the end, each of the characters learns something new about themselves, and we see some personal growth.

You can catch this movie on Netflix, It’s not perfect, but I found it well worth watching.