Review of Palo Alto (2014) by Walter M — 31 May 2014

Towards the end of "Palo Alto," high school senior April(Emma Roberts) remarks on the pointlessness of current films. While I the perpetual optimist had not noticed, it is also possible that April had not noticed it about the film she is a character in. And in case you're wondering, this is not a movie clever enough for such meta criticism.

Instead, "Palo Alto" falls prey to James Franco's patented pretentiousness with neophyte writer director Gia Coppola attempting to adapt some of his stories and doing little to make them more palatable on screen.(The only sign of original thought here is a scene of April sitting in her locker having lunch.) While the movie's pace and focus could best be termed as sluggish and hazy, to be fair, James Franco is a good actor, here playing a lecherous soccer coach.

That character is emblematic of this cliched movie where all the adults are failing the kids by being either molesters, writing their term papers, letting them play violent video games or showing them inappropriate movies.(A clip of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" provides the only nudity.) So, it's no wonder that Teddy(Jack Kilmer) and Fred(Nat Wolff) have gloriously stupid conversations like the one that opens "Palo Alto" when in fact there is nothing wrong with teenagers having not figured everything out, yet.