Synopsis
Blockers (2018) is presented as a bold and hilarious coming-of-age film that flips the traditional teenager sex comedy. The film was directed by Kay Cannon during her feature directorial debut. The film does lean into the raunchy humor associated with the genre, however, it incorporates a unique twist. The story is told from both the teenagers’ and parents’ points of view which adds depth and balance to the comedy and authentic emotional connection.
The story centers on three high school senior girls — Julie, Kayla, and Sam — who form a pact to lose their virginity on prom night. The three women have been best friends since early childhood and now have to face the reality of going their separate ways after graduation. For the girls, the pact symbolizes sexual liberation, conveys a journey of personal development, and marks an expression of independence.
The plan is discovered accidentally when Julie leaves her laptop open, revealing a group chat with the details. The parents that get roped into this shocking mess of narrative are Lisa, who happens to be Julie’s overprotective single mother, Mitchell, who is Kayla’s emotional but lovable dad, and Hunter, a party-boy estranged father of Sam trying to rebuild his life and relationship with his daughter. The parents try to piece together what is happening and decide to stop the girls from going with whatever plan they intend to follow which they believe is very reckless.
In what seems like a wild goose chase, the parents are wildly intervening across town to stop what they believe is chaos disguised in a plan. Accompanying them are their shattered expectations of the night, party crashing fuming with frustration, battling with introverted personalities as well as facing off against their own character deficits intertwined with their true desires.
Nevertheless, as the evening moves along, it becomes evident that the girls are not engaging in reckless behavior. Instead, they are making considered and personal decisions. Each girl has her unique reason for the pact: Julie is in a nurturing and devoted relationship and wishes her first time to be memorable; Kayla is exploring boundaries and attempting to seek empowerment; and Sam is starting to understand that she is attracted to women, though she hasn’t come out to her friends or her father.
In the film’s climax, the parents grapple with the realization that their concern was rooted in their panic around letting go as opposed to genuinely wanting to safeguard their daughters. The film concludes with reconciliation and growth as all parents learn to embrace their daughter’s autonomy and trust her to handle complex situations.
Cast & Crew
The strength of Blockers is its ensemble cast. With warmth, humor, and depth, they elevate what could have been one-dimensional characters.
Leslie Mann portrays Lisa, a single mother to Julie who is both neurotic and caring. Mann portrays a woman who struggles with the prospect of transition into post-child-rearing life with her signature physical humor and emotional vulnerability. Her relationship with Julie is tender, revealing the complexity of love and loss in the process of letting go.
As Mitchell, John Cena is revelatory. While best known for his WWE and action film roles, Cena displays impressive emotional depth and comedic timing here. He is both funny and poignant as a devoted “soft dad” who sobs at the mere thought of his daughter growing up.
Hunter, the estranged father of Sam, is played by Ike Barinholtz. While initially appearing as childish and irresponsible, Hunter proves to be the most sympathetic and progressive of the trio. Barinholtz’s nuanced performance adds depth to a role that could easily fall into the category of one-dimensional comic relief.
The three daughters are played by Kathryn Newton (Julie), Geraldine Viswanathan (Kayla), and Gideon Adlon (Sam). Each actress embodies her character with charm and authenticity. Viswanathan in particular has drawn attention for her strong comedic talent and magnetic presence. The chemistry between the trio makes their friendship both believable and endearing.
Kay Cannon is a renowned director and screenwriter who worked on both 30 Rock and the Pitch Perfect series. Unlike many male creators in the industry, Cannon portrays a woman’s touch to the film, Blockers. Providing an exquisite balance of humor and emotion, she makes the movie both outrageously funny and unexpectedly sincere.
In the film Blockers, parents worry about their teenagers’ involvement in advanced social activities as they try to navigate the ever-changing landscape of adolescent life. The film integrates genuine themes and explores parental concerns while maintaining a lighthearted tone thanks to the brilliant writing by the Kehoe brothers, Brian and Jim.
IMDb Ratings
With a rating of 6.2 out of 10 on IMDb, Blockers is among the better-rated films within its genre. Blockers has received acclaim for its unexpected positive portrayal of teenage sexuality and strong female characters, both younger and older.
Critics have noted the film, along with its humor, focuses on the sincerity of its themes rather than relying solely on the crudeness of its nature. Unlike most teen sex comedies that aim to showcase the objectified women or promote outdated gender roles, Blockers offers a fresh perspective by respecting its leads and portraying their decisions as thoughtful choices.
Viewers engaged with the character humor as well as the surprise emotional beats. It enhanced the storyline to think that the growing pains the parents were enduring provided a unique perspective. While some may have considered the humor outlandish at times, the film’s emotional focus acted as a counterweight to those absurd moments.
Conclusion
Blockers is a film that blends smart writing, humor, and surprising emotional depth to one of the most tired genres in contemporary cinema. It is a movie characterized by its loud and frequent bursts of humor, all while maintaining sincere treatment of its characters. Instead of shaming its teenage characters for engaging in sexual behavior, the film acknowledges their agency and challenges the overbearing protective nature of their parents.
Actors Leslie Mann, John Cena, and Ike Barinholtz portray the well-intentioned but misguided parents and are complemented equally by a talented younger cast. The intergenerational conflict and tension—outdated control instincts clashing with contemporary autonomy—offers the film depth that resonates beyond the humor.
Kay Cannon’s directorial work is commendable for its clear consideration to the subject matter. It is both refreshingly irreverent and masterfully silly in comparison to male-oriented fantasies and slapstick humor. Blockers is also progressive and, most importantly, sincere.
Ultimately, Blockers is effective not only as a piece of comedy, but also as an account of authentic love – imperfectly chaotic and limitless – shared between children and their parents. It serves as a reminder that coming of age is challenging for children, but for parents learning to disengage, the process is equally tough.
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