totallyepic24
horrible... just horrible. I regret even bothering to watch this movie honestly. unrealistic and trying too hard. like ten different plots. There was a serious lack of character development. cringe-worthy acting. annoying music. dumb ending. and the profanity was just there to be there. It wasn't fluid at all. I honestly felt like it was an insulting and disgusting portrayal of my generation (going to 11th grade in the fall). I just couldn't take it seriously. I advise any and everyone to not waste your time and brain cells.... like this movie just didn't make any sense?? shameful of BET to put this on the air, their quality is reducing every single day.. I really wanted to like it and give it a chance, but after the first 5 minutes I was lost and uninterested.. completely turned off.
Steve Pulaski
Mario Van Peebles, and a good chunk of his family for that matter, have made a film that makes an earnest and respectable attempt to resonate with the teenage youth of today, specifically those who reside in an urban location, yet are not handicapped by their limitations. We the Party has many different appeals, whether it be its flashy production values, its unassuming cinematography, its cast of young, ambitious actors, or just the film that engulfs all of these aspects. Unfortunately, everything it does can only be taken so far or until monotony weasels itself into the mind.This is likely a film that will resonate with its core audience, teens that seem to have it all but struggle to balance it out effectively, yet will likely bewilder audiences walking in with an attempt to try and have a personal connection or even just trying to simply find a picture that is above average. The plot concerns a group of teenagers set in a diverse Los Angeles high school, where prom, being unique, being noticed, fitting in, sex, bullies, and personality are the things that come to matter and are important in life. Our main character is Hendrix Sutton (Mandela Van Peebles), a charming high school senior with a lot on his mind, concerning girls, cars, and having an enormous house party. He is getting solid grades, mainly because his father (Mario) keeps him gridlocked on the road to success and devotion by implementing the "tough love" principle in his life.Hendrix is friends with a huge group of people that are into the same kind of things, and his plan is to get together with them all, try to have sex before prom, and throw the ultimate house party with music, women, and dancing. Hendrix becomes deeply involved with Cheyenne (Simone Battle), who is self-aware and intelligent, and the two of them seem to have a mutual connection shared by many high schoolers today.This could've instantly spawned a film of true intelligence and substantial relevance, and I was truly engaged during the picture's first act. Then after about a half hour or so, the film took a dive into the redundancy and the blandness of a mainstream music video. Shots are stockpiled on one another with gyrating teenagers, teenagers making decisions, and teenagers just having a good time dancing. It also doesn't help that the unusual, unnecessary "comic book" style of editing is the route the filmmakers used to showcase many of these shots. And not to mention, rarely do we discover any characteristics of these five young men other than they like to party and they are desperately seeking action.It seems every time We the Party tries to go into the idea of human interest or some considerable depth with its characters, it is caught up with heavy handed moralizing, unsatisfying dialog, and blinding energy from its dance sequence. This is the second major "party" film I've seen in 2012, and while I can say it isn't perfect, it is still light years ahead of the ridiculous Project X.It is pretty apparent the film wants to be on the same level as, say, other urban party films such as the charming and witty House Party - a film that was elevated by its two charismatic actors and the fact it wasn't just about the party, but the humans that inhabited it and how we came to know many of them. We the Party has one fantastic scene and that is a roughly eight minute monologue given by Mario Van Peebles, who is teaching his class about how intelligence is weighed in society and how people now measure your worth by what you have rather than what you say. Let's hope the youth of today doesn't tune out these valuable words while they are impatiently waiting for a rockin' party.Starring: Mario Van Peebles, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Michael Jai White, Tommy 'Tiny' Lister, and Snoop Dogg. Directed by: Mario Van Peebles.
Beatrice McClearn
The movie is great for teens. It gives great concepts that I would want to teach my son or daughter. The movie touches on a variety of topics that include judging others based on appearances, establishing a great network of friends, the importance of social media on relationships, and the specialty of being a virgin. As a former middle school teacher, I saw the value in many of these lessons. Unfortunately, this movie may get bad reviews because it actually does teach a little bit of principal and morale. It's not the typical bad ass movie that we see in today's time. So it may not come across as well as the director intended. Therefore, the audience may be difficult to find in this movie. However, it doesn't stop it from being an okay film that I would recommend you buy on DVD or see if you want an okay movie night.
