Blockers - Review - Mind on Movies

Blockers is in theaters on April 6th, 2018.

Blockers is a comedy about three parents that are willing to go the extra mile to prevent their daughters losing their virginities on prom night. With big names like John Cena and Leslie Mann, does this comedy hit the mark or is a block to itself?

We have probably all seen a teen movie filled with vulgar comedy and a drive to have sex for the first time before going away to college. This same storyline has been used countless times in movies and as a result it’s easy to feel like you’ve seen it all.

That’s how I went in thinking Blockers was going to be but I laughed harder than I have at a comedy in a long time. The basis of the plot is similar to things previously done but the journey getting to them was fresh and hilarious.

The chemistry of the actors felt real and relatable. The parents trying everything in their power to stop their daughters’ pact while the daughters in turn wanted to have a sense of freedom of expression. It was fun to watch as they kept things as modern as possible making everything even funnier. Even the more serious parts did not feel uncomfortable or out of place because it was the perfect balance of funny and there’s actually a moral lesson buried somewhere under these jokes.

There was one scene that was juvenile and flat out disgusting that took place in a limousine. Seeing Seth Rogen as one of the producers made this make more sense however with his touch of “yeah - I went there” comedy.

Overall I enjoyed watching this movie more than I thought I would and will most likely see it for a second round while it’s still in theaters. Make sure to stick around a bit into the credits as there is a post credit scene that is worth the watch!

Rating: 3 out of 5

Ashley (Senior Contributor) is an Orlando native who loves watching movies. Her favorite genres include comedies, thrillers and sci-fi.
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They've finally done it! They've finally made a film about high schoolers that isn't centered around 2-4 white males and their token black acquaintance! But, a movie called Blockers -- what could that be about? The invention of BluBlocker Sunglasses? Surely not. John Cena becoming the coach of an all-girl football team? I might've liked that better.

Were it not for the surreptitiously placed rooster on the film's poster, we mightn't know that -- in fact -- this movie is about cock blocking. Happily, the film doesn't focus on three white men. This time, it's two white men and one white woman. There are SOC (spouses of color) in the film, which is progress, I suppose. We're getting somewhere.

When Julie, Kayla, and Sam (Kathryn Newton, Geraldine Viswanathan, and Gideon Adlon, respectively) become friends in grade school, they form of a lifelong bond. Or at least a bond that lasts until the summer before college. Forming a fellowship of their own, the parents of the young ladies, Lisa, Mitchell, and Hunter (Leslie Mann, John Cena, and Ike Barinholtz, respectively), lean on one another for emotional support when their girls become women in the blink of an eye.

Hatching a #SEXPACT, Julie, Kayla, and -- reluctantly -- Sam decide that prom night is THE night to become deflowered. Deflowered, if you're wondering, is a term that was used in the dark ages to describe the process of a woman losing her virginity before anybody was ready to admit women have vaginas.

When the 'rents get wind of the #SEXPACT, they set out to -- you guessed it -- cock block the children. A Superbad-esque romp ensues, replete with gallows humor seemingly written by a stoned 13-year-old. I don't know if the writing in this movie was -- at times -- actually funny, or if it was just the comedic prowess of Mann, Cena, Barinholtz, and a few other heavy hitters popular in the genre that I won't spoil for you.

Director Kay Cannon -- who has dabbled in the Pitch Perfect sequels and a generous handful of 30 Rock episodes -- flexes a very distinct voice she's developed over the years. She was ideal to have in the driver's seat for Blockers, as she's able to capture the voices of people objectively, without injecting tons of testosterone into films like this one, which could easily fall into that trap.

Blockers could have easily fallen into so many trope categories, but seems to have avoided such an unfortunate circumstance. A film like this could easily use absurdity as a crutch, as they often do. That said, this one dips its toe in the silliness-bordering-on-totally-unbelievable pool and nothing more -- and it works!

Newton, Adlon, and Viswanathan are three young actors I'd be paying attention to, if I were you. I felt about them the way I felt about Emma Stone when I saw Easy A; they're all going places in a hurry and have exciting careers on the horizon. It's a switcheroo from the typical teen-dramedy fare that doesn't take itself too seriously or drone on and on for far too long. I guess the takehome message is that, if you truly love your child, you'll chug a beer with your butt. Thanks, John Cena, for your service.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Katie (Contributor) is a cinephile and Chicago native who has been reviewing film for nearly a decade. Her heroes include Roger Ebert and Jay Sherman -- it stinks!
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Blockers Stars stars Leslie Mann, Ike Barinholtz and John Cena as a trio of friends/parents who try to stop their daughters from loosing their virginity on prom night. They end up following their kids around town and encounter quite a mix of shenanigans!

I thought this this movie was pretty funny, I love John Cena and I think he really stole the show. It wasn’t as funny as I thought it would be but I laughed a lot and really enjoyed it.

If you like Superbad, this kind of had that feel to it. I wouldn’t take your teens or kids to see this, it’s definitely a movie for adults!

Rating: 3 out of 5

Ashley K. (Contributor) is a frequent traveler currently living in San Diego. She's a super nerd who enjoys all kinds of movies and doesn't always think the book was better.
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