Fair Game

🎥 Synopsis

Hooking Up follows Michelle (Leah Viens-Gordon), a high school student who decides to try casual sex after noticing the attention her friend April (Allyson Muñoz) gets from her sexual encounters. Along this journey, Michelle interacts with a myriad of peers which causes her to have misadventures that straddle the line of teenage sexual exploration— a theme the story hopes to center around. In parallel, April’s brother Colin (Jim deProphetis) is shown struggling with the confusing parts of his sexuality. This adds yet another layer of complexity to the story.

🌟 Cast

• Corey Feldman as Ryan Thompson
• Leah Viens-Gordon as Michelle Jordan
• Allyson Muñoz as April Winters
• Brian O’Halloran as Dr. Jordan
• Bronson Pinchot as Mr. Kimbal
• Parker Croft as John
• Jim deProphetis as Colin
• Ted Sangalis as Tyler
• Alison Whitney as Caroline
• Jessica Howell as Jess

🖋️ Themes and Tone

The film aims to approach themes such as identity crisis, self-exploration in adolescence, and peer pressure. Regardless, the execution about nuance identification is extremely exaggerated and at times crude in humor which makes it difficult to grasp the able to grasp the messages. The transitions between comedic and dramatic tones feel forced— which leaves the viewers bewildered on the true direction of the film.

🎞️ Style and Aesthetic Approach

In Scordia’s Hooking Up the approach is pictorial is simplistic as that of a low budget film. The framing does not offer any special features, while the cuts are sometimes jarring instead of aiding the flow of the narrative. The visual portrayal of the film does attempt on enhancing the telling of the story, instead rendering scenes monotonal and lifeless.

🔥 Criticism

The film was bombarded with negative reviews from the critics as well as the general audience. Descriptions such as “an unwatchable and plain ‘comedy’ filled with poor execution” or “ a film made using a camera is a cringe to both good and bad raunch-coms” were common. Audience reviews were no different lamenting bad acting, poor humor and a fragmented storyline as the greatest downfalls.

📝 Closing Remarks

This film aims to reach the standards set by teenage sex comedies dominating the space but ends up lacking terribly. With the under the belt cliche humor paired with unpolished character portrayals, the film misses a chance at presenting a more sophisticated take a teenager’s life. For those hoping for a substantial or truly comical depiction of teenage sexuality, the film does not promise vindication.