Neil's Party

How many times have I told myself not to watch UK movies? Plenty. This time, however, I didn't pay close attention to the country that produced this movie. "Fortunately," I didn't get to wait long to recognize the putrid ingredients in this poorly cooked slice of a British Pie movie. The flavor of the jokes here totally smells as if they have been picked up and placed on a plate straight from a men's toilet left full after an American party. The guys spoke too much like the blondest social butterflies where they didn't have to and would frigidly say nothing in the parts where I so expected them to open their mouth. The girls had no spice either: they must have been hand-picked by the worst looks in the pool of extras. Choose a movie. Choose a review. Choose where to watch it. But why would anyone want to watch a movie like this?

It was always the filmmakers intention to give this film the look of a well lit, Hollywood style movie and I must thank them for that because they succeeded in that endeavor. Too often, British films will be poorly lit with blown highlights and detailess shadows and then try to get away with it claiming that it was deliberately done for an artsy look. That fools nobody and the makers of Neils Party are to be commended for paying great attention to this important detail in film-making.

The films storyline will be understood by anyone who can still remember their own 18th year and though it might be predictable at times it succeeds because of strong performances from the young cast. The performances come across as realistic and believable. it doesn't appear forced or over the top.

To use the American vernacular, it's a cute film and a very good first effort for the filmmaker. it brings a new look to a part of Britain that's rarely shown, not the gritty working class landscape nor the affluent manor houses that have become tiresome exports this past decade. Instead, we are treated to a view of life in a rural market town albeit from an area with the highest real estate values in Britain.

A British teen-movie that shows an English take on "American Pie"? Surely not, but yes, this film from a talented team of young filmmakers has achieved it.

With all the gloss that usually marks a Hollywood movie, this film brings back many of my memories of growing up in small-town England, the anxieties of meeting (or not meeting!) girls. It cleverly captures the tensions of growing up in a small market town, where there are limited opportunities to meet new people, and yet you are reluctant to become involved with people you went to school with. Although Neil's Party has an underlying poignancy, it is very funny, with some excellent one-liners, and a number of ribald situations that had me rolling in the aisles.

And of course, no teen movie is complete without some sex; Neil's Party has plenty of sexy situations, with some beautiful girls. The focus of Neil's adoration, and his fantasies, is the beautiful Lauren (played by Lauren Bigby – definitely a girl to watch for the future). The movie gains considerably from using a cast of young up-and-coming actors, who bring a freshness to the picture by virtue of being new and unknown faces – surely they will not remain unknown for long.

For viewers who have not been to England, this movie will show the Brits and middle England in a new light; for Brits abroad, it will conjure up those anxious, carefree days when the sun always shone, and the main worry was how to get laid.

This is not an art-house movie; it's young, fresh and great fun; see it.

If you are a fan of the American Pie series, then you will not only be disappointed with this movie, but appalled by the bland humor. The movie did have its times though. The nudity was half wonderful, but not as good as American Wedding. I laughed plenty during American Wedding and got very excited during a lot of parts (if you know what I mean), but I did not have that same sense of pure enjoyment as I did while I watched Neil's Party. The audio was poorly done. Every time someone talked, you heard some static in the background. Since everyone was buying liquor legally. There was just no fun in it. Big deal everyone was drinking. Anyone 18 years old could do that. Neil is a weak skinny loser just like all his friends. American Wedding is so much better.

Although I am many years away from my teens, this gem of a film took me back to my own quivering youth growing up just outside London in the late forties and early fifties. Times may have changed but human beings still need to "get it right" (especially exploding teens). A young fresh cast, all unknown to me, were absolutely delightful, it wouldn't be fair to pinpoint just one or two, so my kudos go out to all of them. I predict fine things for them. Their collective contributions guided by a fine director and a script that certainly delivered the goods was top notch. The Film just carried me along on a super ride and one I can heartily recommend to my friends (of all ages. Cheers to a wonderful team in front and behind the camera. Here's to your next one !.