Project X Directed by: Nima Nourizadeh Starring: Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper, Jonathan Daniel Brown, Miles Teller Rating: R Release Date: March 2, 2012
TRAILER SCORE: 1/10
Thoughts by TSR: This film is probably a dream come true to anyone who has ever wanted to be at the type of wild party where cars get driven into pools, shirtless guys ride horses down a nearly post-apocalyptic street, and dogs hop around in bouncy castles. Fine, I’ll give you that last one. A dog in a bouncy castle is downright delightful. But the rest? I won’t hesitate to say Project X looks like one of the least appealing films to come along in quite some time. I have, however, seen a lot of positivity surrounding this trailer, so I know I’m in the minority. What’s that they say about one man’s trash?
To me this is nothing more than wish fulfillment garbage. I will hand it to the trailer in one respect: it’s wearing that like a badge of honor. It uses quotes that are ostensibly from people who saw screenings of the film, one of which proclaims it to be “An epic, dirty, hilarious movie. I wish I was there!” I guess it deserves credit for knowing what it is and who it’s trying to appeal to.
But what do I know, right? This sort of thing is exceptionally popular right now – Katy Perry’s repulsive “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart after all. Between the wish fulfillment and The Hangover’s Todd Phillips slapping his name on it, this will probably make a boatload of money. Then we’ll be treated to Project X: Part II. Maybe they’ll go to Bangkok!
I’ve been interested to see if found footage could break out of the horror genre. But if you’re going to sell this as “Superbad on crack,” I’ll gladly pass and wait for something a little less trashy to make the case.