INCOMING
(director/writer: Dave Chernin, John Chernin; cinematographer: Ricardo Diaz; editors: Elizabeth Praino, Josh Crockett; music: Jonathan Sadoff; cast: Mason Thomas (Benji Nielsen), Ali Gallo (Alyssa Nielsen), Kaitlin Olson (Mrs. Nielsen), Isabella Ferreira (Bailey), Thomas Barbusca (Ruby), Raphael Alejandro (Connor), Ramon Reed (Eddie), Bardia Seiri (Danah ‘Koosh’ Koushani), Kayvon Shai (Kayvon Koushani), Gattlin Griffith (Shaved Head), Bobby Cannavale (Mr. Studebaker), Loren Gray (Katrina Aurienna); Runtime: 91; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Gary Barber, Todd Garner, Mark Korshak, Peter Oillataguerre, Ben Silverman, Nicholas Stoller, Conor Welch, Peter Principato; Netflix; 2024)
“Unfunny teen comedy.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Directed and written by the Chernin brothers, Dave and John, in their feature debut. They are the sons of the former Fox chief and Hollywood mogul Peter Chernin. Their film is an unfunny teen comedy that’s rowdy, annoying and lacking an edge. If the story seems familiar, it’s because it looks like so many other vulgar sitcom teen films.
Benji Nielsen (Mason Thames) is a nerdy high school freshman. He pals around with fellow classmates Connor (Raphael Alejandro), Eddie (Ramon Reed) and ‘Koosh’ (Bardia Seiri).
Benji is a former theater kid who has a crush on his older sophomore sister Alyssa’s (Ali Gallo) bestie Bailey (Isabella Ferreira). Koosh needs to prove himself to his older, violent brother Kayvon (Kayvon Koushani). Both these needs can be met at Kayvon’s house party during the first school week-end.
The party is raucous, the boys act crass, and the personal insults aimed at some party-goers I guess are supposed to add levity.
Benji’s senior carpool bud, Ruby (Thomas Barbusca), sells him drugs, which brings on a brawl among the devious party-goers. The plans by Koosh to meet girls on the cute are cringe worthy (for any cute girl incoming, she’ll be introduced in a slow motion montage on a surveillance camera). The pathetic but cheerful chem teacher, Mr. Studebaker (Bobby Cannavale), passes out trying to keep pace with the party animal students, as he tries to re-live his youth through his students. Also, some drunk girls while peeing in the yard are taking selfies.
Then there’s the gross-out bowel movement scene at Taco Bell among some students, which is the film’s most obnoxious moment.
“Incoming” can’t find a middle-ground to wrap a bow around it to make it a more acceptable teen film. Instead it tries setting the record for poop jokes in a 91 minute film. The result is a shitty film that I couldn’t give two shits about.
REVIEWED ON 8/30/2024 GRADE: C-
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