1) A life problem that needs to be faced and solved -- Getting laid/Getting girls
2) A wrong way approach to solving the problem -- Getting the booze will impress the girls
3) Acceptance of one's faults in order to fix the problem -- Being honest/Vulnerable in their relationships
OPENING IMAGE:
At first I thought it might be the retro titles/funky music/Cartoon images of Jonah Hill and Michael Cera dancing that sets the tone and the 70s/80s comedy feel.
But...I'd say it's Jonah driving to pick Michael Cera up. A typical day in the life of these two high-school seniors...a routine they've probably done every school day.
SETUP:
Seth (Jonah) and Evan (Michael Cera) are best buds. It's two weeks before high-school graduation and the two are headed to different colleges. Evan to Dartmouth(which Seth wasn't accepted).
Seth is sex-crazed. He takes his porno seriously and is obsessed with Jules, the hot/cool chick that seems way to put together for Seth, yet somehow likes him. Ethan is more mature. He wants to get with Becca. And while he's a bit awkward it's obvious that the feeling is mutual.
These guys never go to parties (but pretend they do). People don't want them. But Becca is hoping Evan will go to Jules party. And Jules invited Seth during a home economics class.
They also find out their geeky friend Fogler aka Mclovin is about to get a fake id.
THEME STATED:
Early on, Evan's mom asks "Are you going to miss each other?" Instead of answering truthfully, the two hide their real feelings and insult each other.
The moral premise I came up with is -- "Being deceptive and hiding things from the ones we care about leads to missed opportunities and hurt feelings; being vulnerable and striving for honest relationships leads to deeper friendship/love and personal self-confidence."
Essentially, these two best friends are very honest with each other and share intimate info in regards to girls and sex. But they won't admit to each other that they're going to miss each other now that they're about to separate for the first time in their lives.
Both guys also are scared to take the next steps with the girls they like despite the girls obvious interest in them. Instead they're filled with self-doubt, and won't let down their guards to admit their feelings. They decide to take the much harder route of impressing them with obtaining alcohol.
Fogler on the other hand, has a much easier time. He pretty much says what he wants and doesn't hide too much. He has the most 'success' through the night.
In the end, the best friends drunkenly profess their love for one another. And then they make more honest/self-confident moves with the girls they like.
CATALYST:
Finding out about the fake id, Jules asks Seth to get booze for the party. And entrusts him with $100. He accepts. This is his chance to impress her.
DEBATE:
Seth tells Evan about the booze. And while the sensible Evan is hesitant at first, he realizes it’s a chance to impress Becca. Becca requests he get her special Vodka (Goldslick Vodka).
But there's problems -- as they arrive at the liquor store, they discover Fogler's fake id just says 'McLovin' and it suggests he's 25 years old. This is never going to work.
Seth decides to go into the super market and get the booze on his own...but he can't bring himself to do it.
BREAK INTO:
They decide to go with the original plan. Fogler will have to go in and get their booze.
FUN & GAMES:
Mclovin goes in while the other two are distracted by a hot chick. While purchasing the booze, the store is robbed. Mclovin punched.
When Seth & Evan return they see the cops have arrived. They think Fogler has been busted! Evan wants to help him, but Seth convinces Evan to ditch him. As they discuss it -- Seth is hit by a car.
The creepy driver tries to negotiate; he doesn't want the cops called. Seth wants money or booze. The guy has neither, but he's headed to a party where they have lots of booze. He tells the guys he'll take them there and off they go.
Meanwhile, Fogler makes nice with the cops. The cops are willing to drive him and his bag full of purchased liquor to the party.
MIDPOINT:
Evan and Seth arrive at the party. But it's a false victory; their driver gets the crap beaten out of him by the angry home owner. This place is scary. A strangely intense energy. Drinking. Fighting. Drugs.
BAD GUYS CLOSE IN:
Seth is on a mission to steal some booze for the party. But Evan has had enough, he leaves. Seth ends up dancing with a girl and getting period blood on him. People point it out, and it's the blood of the angry home owner’s fiancée. Seth sneaks away. Stealing alcohol. Filling some gas cans with it.
Meanwhile, Mclovin goes on a call with the cops. He ends up tackling the criminal. He and the cops share a drink at the bar.
Evan gets a call from Becca but it's a terrible connection. He goes back in the house. He gets trapped, some guys think he's Jimmy's brother, the guy with 'the amazing voice'. Force him to sing. And Seth is trapped. He gets into a fight with the angry home owner.
A huge fight breaks out. Evan and Seth escape the fight, but someone calls the police. And now it all comes out -- Seth is mad at Evan for 'bailing out on him'. Evan is mad at Seth for being selfish and bailing out on Fogler. The whole Dartmouth thing comes out. Why would Evan apply to a school Seth couldn't get into? Evan accuses Seth of holding him back.
ALL IS LOST:
The cops -- along with McLovin
DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL:
Our heroes run away. The cops chase. They eventually get away and regroup with McLovin. But at this point they're relationship is fractured. It comes out that McLovin and Evan are planning on rooming together at college, which just further infuriates Seth.
BREAK INTO ACT 3:
They arrive at the part, each going their separate ways.
FINALE:
Seth enters as 'the hero'. Evan arrives to find Becca is drunk and wants to get busy with him (she takes him upstairs). McLovin finds the 'thong chick' he ogled over early in high-school. Evan fends off Becca, not interested in having sex with a drunken girl. Seth has the opposite problem; Jules isn't interested in him because he's drunk. But she likes him in general (Seth can't believe a hot girl like that would like him without being drunk).
The police bust the party. Evan is passed out on the couch but Seth doesn't bail on Evan -- he's saves him, carrying him out.
The cops bust in on McLovin chasing the girl away. They have a heart-to-heart with him. Agree to take him out in handcuffs making him the hero of the night.
Our heroes are at Evan's sleeping beside each other in sleeping bags...they both tell each other they love each other and how much they'll miss each other.
The next morning, all is forgiven; they agree to go to the mall together. There they meet the girls. After an awkward conversation, it's clear the girls are still interested in them. Seth and Jules go off together and Evan and Becca go off together.
CLOSING IMAGE:
The two guys go their separate ways. Jonah throws a sad/poignant look over his shoulder...watching Michael Cera go off.
Really nicely done....
ReplyDeleteI avoided this movie but watched it recently, and actually loved it.
I think you nailed it closer than I did, esp Moral Premise. The more I think about it the more I believe you're right.