Spring break is decidedly around the corner. Why else would a film featuring entitled, booze-abusing, pill-popping teenagers appear at this time of year? Timing is everything, and Hollywood is right on cue with the upcoming release of Project X. 
This latest portrayal of teenagers running amok is suitably produced by The Hangover director Todd Phillips, and Project X is nothing more than a hangover for teenagers with a few differences.
In The Hangover, the film follows a group of men in the harsh aftermath of the biggest hangover in Hollywood history. However, the depravity, lewdness and decadence of this movie takes place off-camera.
In Project X the pubescent bacchanal unfolds right before the demographic it represents: teenagers. Unlike the unforgiving consequences depicted in the adult film version of a drinking binge, Project X takes place seemingly without any significant penalties (except for a torched million-dollar California home and totaled luxury sports cars) suffered by the lawbreaking youngsters.
Parents, if you’re concerned with preserving your child’s brain cells intact before they hit college, then heed this film’s message before you end up having to have an intervention by family or loved ones with your underage drinker.
The simple premise of this film is that you shouldn’t trust your child with an empty house even if he’s a nerd. Any adolescent can be coerced into breaking the law, and your trust, by the same peer pressure unconfident teens succumb to on a daily basis: The need to be popular.
This film’s debut comes on the heels of a compelling study published in the British Journal of Medicine which explains a correlation between Hollywood’s depiction of underage illegal activities, like binge drinking, among teenagers increases the likelihood of kids dong this; the more they are exposed to these shows and movies the more they’re likely to follow these examples.
Not surprisingly, the Parents Television Council is also raising awareness about this dangerous and recurring theme in Hollywood and its influence on underage youth.
Aside from this film’s entirely predictable plot line, it’s uninteresting and the subject matter is old and tired. Besides, why use underage teenagers to promote over-the-top misguided behavior when there are plenty of 20-somethings who can party ’till it’s 2099?
Oh, right. Lindsay Lohan was busy rehearsing for her Saturday Night Live comeback — thought she’d be more likely to pass for a 30 or 40-something given her recent ‘aged’ appearance.
Though it’s probably futile and a waste of cyber ink to caution you, I will anyway. Avoiding the 87 minutes of unadulterated adolescent debauchery would be my recommendation for everyone.
And while we are at it, keep an eye out for Project X film screenwriter Michael Baccal’s next project: 21 Jump Street. Baccal’s upcoming film to be released in a few weeks promises more miss-use of alcohol and drugs by wayward teenagers.
On a last note, parents, if you can influence your teenager’s decision about what films they should spend your $12 on, persuade them to catch Act of Valor instead. And don’t forget to add the caveat that they’re more likely to end up in the military if they do anything even remotely akin to the irresponsible unruliness of Project X.
Project X stars Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper and Jonathan Daniel Brown.
Rated R
Run Time 87 minutes
I keep hearing about this, and I naively thought it was actually a serious/thought provoking film. But by the time I read the premise and that it was made by Todd Phillips, perhaps my family can settle for The Lorax.lols
I agree with you. The Lorax is likely to leave a more positive and long-lasting impression on your kids than this silly escpade will! Thanks for stopping by!
This film is horrifying irresponsible. I am torn about allowing my kids to see it. One part of me wants to take them myself and then discuss it with them after as I know at some point they will see it. So sick of Hollywood making my life as a mother harder. There is a special place in hell for people that produce this kind of garbage.
Stefanie, I agree and am glad we are on the same page about this. I know we can’t shield our teenagers from the horrible images Hollywood throws at them. Even if we watch this film with them and talk about it with them until we are blue in the face, there are no guarantees they’ll be safe from this sort of Hollywood-inspired mayhem. But we just simply can’t give up. It is garbage!