Review of Palo Alto (2014) by Grant D — 14 May 2016

In palo alto, it feels like something is always about to happen, but then nothing does... long stretches of boring interspersed with short bursts of cringing. Often, I love movies like this. The movie is shot slow and bland in a way that can really work for me, but ultimately the plot (or lack-thereof) betrays that technique.

there are not one but two bursts of aimless 'i love you"s, several long transitions that are dialogue-free yet not particularly expressive, and way too much smoking.. there's are moments where there seems to be an attempt at exploiting the cigarettes for the purpose of advancing the story, such as during the babysitting scene where april lights up, or when she wishes on her lucky cig.

For me, it rang hollow. The cigarettes are used as a prop for using up time to build tension, a cop-out from developing real, raw characterization. Theres true character building in the contrast between emma roberts' complexity and her aloof parents.

its there in the first few scenes, where her basic-b*tch friends are revealed, and where teddy soaks up fred's antics. Overall though, these characters stagnate as the film moves forward. At the end of the day, palo alto was neither entertaining nor deep.