That Project X Last Night Was Awesome!

Project X debuted in theaters on Feb. 29^th, 2012. This film was British-Iranian director Nima Nourizadeh's first and was produced by Todd Phillips ("The Hangover", "Old School").  The movie revolves around Thomas (Thomas Mann), who wants to celebrate his 17^th birthday in style.  Luckily, Thomas was born on his parent's anniversary so they left him the house for the weekend. His two best friends, Costa (Oliver Cooper) and J.B. (Jonathan Daniel Brown), conjure up the idea to throw an epic ripper for Tom's birthday, being the good friends they are.  This party is dubbed "Project X". They also want to create a name for themselves and get laid, which is you know, pretty understandable.

To create more of a "suave" persona for themselves, Tom, Costa, and J.B. decide to get some pot (marijuana for all you squares) from T-Rick (Roger Shapiro); an ex-solider.  In the processes of purchasing the illicit substance, Costa decides to steal a lawn gnome flashing the middle finger.  T-Rick finds out about this and pursues them throughout the movie, letting his flamethrower take care of the negotiations. Meanwhile, the three friends, with the help of a Craiglist posting and radio ads, threw the greatest, and most destructive party that Pasadena had ever seen!  The party and mayhem that ensues is videotaped by J.B.'s friend from AV class, Dax (Dax Flame).  This aspect could cause one to draw the conclusion that Project X is, indeed, the love-child of Superbad and Party Monster.

This film doesn't bend the rules that all those teen party movies set up in the 80's:  our main character is an underweight, and unknown sensitive guy who has a crush on his best-friend, Kirby (Kirby Bliss Blanton).  Throw in two awkward friends: a headstrong and conniving Costa, and an overweight, four-eyed sportin' J.B.  However cliché those dynamics are, they work. Running just over an hour, this film is guaranteed to make you tinkle your pants with glee.  Whether you like the airy, silliness of teen romances, the raunchiness, party flicks, or reminiscing on all those ragers you threw in high school (or were at last night), the film had it all.

The film didn't receive a good review from Rotten Tomatoes, which gave it a 26%.  According to Rotten Romatoes, Project X is, "Unoriginal, unfunny, and all-around unattractive. Project X mines the depths of the teen movie and found-footage genres for 87 minutes of predictably mean-spirited debauchery."  In defense of the film, it's actually only 77 minutes, which sort of discredits the  relativity of the review, you know, not getting facts straight and such.  Luckily for the film, Peter Travers of Rolling Stone Magazine gave the film a decent review (3.5 out of 5 stars) and really captured the essence of the film by stating, "Project X is a shitfaced Paranormal Activity." So if you're looking for some insightful, life-changing movie that will make you a better person, I guess this isn't really the movie for you.  If you, however, are looking for a good laugh-fest that you and your lady (or man) can get your jollies off on, check out Project X, you're gonna wish you were there.