American Campus

If you go into college expecting the bare minimum of a movie and taking it for what it is (a mildly entertaining cliché filled coming of age comedy) you will still not enjoy yourself. The reason is simple, it tries too hard to be funny. It's most easily compared to that annoying guy at work who stands at the water cooler making immature mom jokes or an annoying teacher at school who desperately wants to impress the students. The script surprisingly isn't bad but this movie rips off of Superbad so much with the character of Fogel in relation to this movies Morris you could call it plagiarism. The ever so ridiculously cliché character that brings sympathy and laughs from the audience because of how naive he is always being so sexually insecure and inexperienced is just so old. The only actor who deserves any sort of a nod is Drake Bell for his mediocre acting and decent carrying of his co actors (Andrew Caldwell and Kevin Covais.) It's sad watching this movie really because the actors so desperately want to be funny (except Drake Bell) so that they can get recognition and be cast into an Apatow film. They have a chance really with the script and extremely humorous atmosphere filled with jocks and egotistical lunatics both male and female. They're acting coaches and idiotic attitudes hurt them here as they failed to make a humorous movie. You average group of teenagers may enjoy this, which is not a bad thing but if you go into this movie looking for a cohesive story line and enjoyable plot then go watch Tropic Thunder where the actors actually succeed in some of these categories.

OK, this movie is a real stinker.

If you are looking for a quality movie experience, look elsewhere. Yes, it is not original, it is predictable, the jokes aren't good, and the characters are one dimensional. But it's so bad, it's good. The clichés and raunchy-ness just add to the fun. A bit of a let down at the end when it tries to get serious, and not a classic in the "so bad it's good" genre. Don't be expecting Barbarella or Bolero, but there is some good raw material here. A stupider (not just vapid) ending would have gone a long way.

A few beers will enhance the experience.

... you might actually kinda enjoy this. Not that it is any good compared to many other "raunchy" teen comedies (some of the best lately being the first American Pie movies), but if you stop comparing this to other movies (like Superbad, another great comedy, that cannot be touched by this movie), this won't be a complete waste of time. The characters are cliché, but while mostly bland, the actors still try their best and almost achieve to give them some edges.

There are many flaws (if I start to think about them, it'll loose a point or two), but in the end, this movie delivered, what you could expect it to do. So while my rating is low, if you happen to have low expectations too, they will be met, by this. Of course the fecal and urine jokes are not really the best side of this, but it's up to you to decide, if you wanna go down "that road".

Some story lines are being left in the dark, others are underplayed (or dealt with wrongly, the girlfriend storyline), but the three main girl characters have a sweetness to them, that is kinda fun. I guess I liked seeing them try ...

Let me begin by saying this. I am taking time out of my day to sit here and write about how awful this movie is. Rarely do I ever write a review on here. I only do so if I really like a movie, or can't stand a movie so bad that I think others should be warned about going to pay to see it. All told, I've written probably four reviews. This is hands down the worst movie I've seen in the last five years. Sadly, I thought the previews made it look alright. Seeing as how I'm 23 and recently graduated from college, I also thought that this movie could bring back some nostalgia from my recently deceased college years. Me and three ex-fraternity brothers from school went to catch this movie with hopes that it would at least provide us some decent laughs before going out. We were dead wrong. Not only is this a blatant rip off of Superbad, Accepted, The Girl Next Door etc., it also is host to three of the most annoying main characters in the history of film. The jokes suck, the situations are beyond dumb, and the portrait it paints of college is completely wrong. In order to hang out with frat guys you have to take shots of tequilla from a dude's a$$ crack? Really? Don't remember seeing that in my college days. Annoying fat kids hooking up with hot blondes? Yeah, no, don't recall that either. College kids even caring that high schoolers were at their parties? Not the case. Where I went to school they were introduced and greeted with a beer. No one f**king cared if they were there. I could go on forever, but the bottom line is save your time and money. Go rewatch Superbad or Dazed and Confused or something. Or better yet, save your 10 bucks, get a 12 pack of shi**y beer, get drunk, and let the night unfold. There's a more realistic college experience for you.

Kevin Brewer (Drake Bell) is going with bookish friend Morris Hooper for his scholarship meeting. His girlfriend Gina (Alona Tal) is going to Miami without him. She breaks up with him for being a dork. Fletcher tells the guys about a wild college weekend trip. Kevin decides to go partying with Morris and idiot best friend Carter Scott (Andrew Caldwell) at the University. He falls for college girl Kendall (Haley Bennett) and faces frat bully Teague (Nick Zano).

A large part of my dislike hinges on Andrew Caldwell. He is the standard fat loudmouth best friend. The problem is that he overplays the annoying card. He's far too unlikeable. His early interaction with his friends is off-putting. I need to laugh at him. Instead, I'm annoyed with him. Drake Bell is a dud. He's obviously trying grow out of his Nickelodeon TV show which I never saw. I don't blame him for trying but his acting is stiff. I like the endearing dorky third wheel Morris. On the other hand, Kenall is also a dud. Haley Bennett has always struck me as a high maintenance girl. She fits Gina much better and Alona Tal would have been a superior Kendall as a girl next door. This is not a particular special college party romp and the leads lack good charisma.