Review of Blockers (2018) by Jon K — 15 Apr 2018

"Blockers" is a 2018 comedy directed by Kay Cannon. Starring Leslie Mann, Ike Barinholtz, John Cena and three very talented young actresses; Kathryn Newton, Gideon Adlon and Geraldine Viswanathan. The film is about three teen girls who make a pact to lose their virginities on the night of their senior prom, the parents making that discovery and their decisions on how to deal with it, and a learning process in watching children grow up. At the heart of the film is friendship. It's about forming close bonds with others from a young age and keeping them, as well as forming others later in life. It's a 'teen' sex comedy with a twist. This film is as much about the parents as it is their children, differentiating this film from others that fall in the category.

The movie is a fun ride. With more heart toward the end than I anticipated. Because of clever writing, we're given three dimensional characters with individual struggles across the board, rather than cookie cutter caricatures. The characters are brought to life by six very talented performers. Leslie Mann is solid as a single mother dealing with her daughter growing into her own independent woman. Ike Barinholtz brings great comedy and depth to man trying to repair his fractured relationship with his daughter. John Cena has some great moments in the film. Showing off his comedic chops and timing, proving he has a future in films like this. But I believe the real stars of the film are the daughters. The three girls are fantastic. Their chemistry is palpable from the beginning. We see these three have grown up together from a young age and have remained close throughout their schooling. And what's refreshing is they are all different. Each with their own distinct personality.

The movie has some great laughs. Laugh out loud moments at times. And also surprising depth. It deals with the relationships between parent and child and how that relationship evolves as children grow into adulthood. The parents learn that as their children grow, they must be left to make their own decisions. The film does a great job presenting this, in some quite hilarious ways, while not undercutting the seriousness of the situation. It allows for genuine connection between the parents and their children, even one I found touching, as the parents learn to respect their children as adults making their own adult decisions. The film does an excellent job of showing that young women are capable and mature enough to make their own decisions regarding sex. And that they should make those decisions. That it's ok to try something new, or not try something new if it's not yet time.

What holds the film together is friendship. The three daughters are all charming, and as a member of the audience I bought into their friendship from the get-go. We're presented with three very different girls who are all close despite their differences. The film makes no deal of this which is great to see. They're friends simply because they're friends. These three see each other for who they are and because of that they have genuine love and respect for one another. The parents' story follows them getting to that place. Leslie Mann, Ike Barinholtz and John Cena must learn to reconnect with each other. They've gone their separate ways for some time and through this journey of dealing with their maturing daughters, they find common ground and are able to rekindle friendship.

"Blockers" is sweet little movie with good laughs and a solid heart. It is a fun ride from start to finish. It was some great performances all around. The standouts being Ike Barinholtz and Geraldine Viswanathan. The film touches on friendship, parenting and growing up. It shows us that it may not be easy to watch our children make their own decisions, but that it is absolutely critical that we do so.