BLOCKERS is that film that’s over-hyped on social media, right up to the point where you don’t anticipate it to be funny. When you watch it, however, it actually is. The film had all the makings of a cringeworthy movie, but, instead, pulled off jokes that drew roars of laughter from across the theater. By the end, I found my cheeks hurting from all my laughing.
However, the movie was far more than just comedy. In coming-of-age movies, we view trials and hardships solely through the teenage perspective. BLOCKERS offers us a well-rounded view of teenage rites of passage (prom and losing our virginity) by allowing us into parents’ points of view. You don’t just see yourself in the teen characters, you’re able to envision your parents in the parent characters, which amplifies the relatability, and, in turn, comedic factor.
The film follows a group of parents (Lisa, Mitchell, and Hunter), who discover their daughters’ (Julie, Sam, and Kayla) plans to lose their virginities on prom night. The parents then plot to stop it from happening. We’re able to, not only follow a group of teen girls as they grow up and experience the pressures of senior year, but see how parents never really stop growing and learning alongside their children.
I, right away, noticed how realistic the movie felt. The dialogue was current and accurate— essentially what I hear in day-to-day conversation with friends— allowing for the millennial audience to step right into the movie. No family was the typical white suburban household: Julie was raised by her overprotective single mother, Sam’s parents are divorced, and Kayla comes from a mixed race family. I definitely appreciated the diverse characters, and I’m sure everyone who goes to see the movie will, too.
In a way, the movie really isn’t about these female protagonists losing their virginity. It’s largely about seizing control of one’s sexuality and learning to be comfortable and confident with it. Losing one’s virginity is a huge rite of passage, and BLOCKERS helps us see that any way in which we go about it is okay, as long as we’ve made the choice ourselves and feel comfortable with it.
The casting for parents was definitely spot-on. John Cena is the perfect suburban dad, complete with plaid dress shirt and fanny pack. Leslie Mann was hilarious as the anal, single mother, paranoid about her daughter’s choices, and Ike Barinholtz did a great job as the goofy, disheveled dad, trying to rebuild his relationship with his daughter.
Though there was no shortage of bizarre scenes (i.e. John Cena chugging beer through his butthole and the group sneaking into a neighbor’s house amid their neighbor’s weird sex game), a lot of the film’s comedic value, again, lies in the relatability of the film. We’re able to relive the awkward moments of teen life, and, in a way, BLOCKERS lets us take a step back and make fun of ourselves and our parents.
In summation, BLOCKERS offers us no mind-blowing message. It simply is a realistic portrayal of the different ways we and our parents grow up together. Its relatability inspires a sense of nostalgia— one that has me missing the excitement around prom night and leaving for college. The movie is fresh, energetic, and just, overall, a fun time. If you’re still on the fence about watching the film, I highly encourage you just do it! It’s definitely one of those movies that leave you feeling good even after you’ve exited the theater.
BLOCKERS officially hits theaters April 6.