Review of Prom (2011) by Jason M — 15 May 2011

Prom.

Initial Reaction: Who are you going with?

Main Characters.

Nova Prescott, Jessie Richter, Tyler Barso, Simone Daniels, Mei Kwan, Justin Wexler, Lucas Arnaz, Corey Doyle, Jordan Lundly, Rolo, Ali Gomez: Several Students going to school played by Aimee Teegarden, Thomas McDonell, DeVaughn Nixon, Danielle Cambell, Ying Chan, Jared Kusnitz, Nolan Sotillo, Cameron Monaghan, Kylie Bunbury, Joe Adler, and Janelle Ortiz.

Plot Summary.

The Prom arriving at a high school, and several students are getting ready for the festivities: first, the guys have to ask the girls out, the preparations have to be made (even though they were accidentally burnt in a fire), and everyone has to get the right dress or tux for the occasion.

But things get complicated in the first step: asking the girl out. Some guys have trouble asking a girl out, and some guys want to change their date on a whim.

And there's the couple who everyone thinks will end up together - but have relationship issues that are hidden under the surface; the couple that nobody would think would end up together; and all sorts of other couples.

SCORING.

Main Characters.

There's a lot of characters in this film, and I found a few too many to keep track of. An narrower focus on fewer couples would've got a long way to making a more enjoyable picture. SCORE: 6.

Supporting Cast.

The families of these characters are like most other families, but once again too many cooks have spoiled this broth. SCORE: 6.

Plot.

Keeping track of who goes out with whom isn't easy - the film flashes back and forth between each student and potential couple, and some of the stories felt tired (namly the one that involves the class president going out with the troublemaker, and the one about the senior trying to ask a sophomore to the Prom while pretending to like another senior). SCORE: 4.

Originality.

There have been other TV shows and movies about teenagers going to Prom, but this one goes the distance and takes a hard look at the makings of a prom, and the process the students go through when they go to prom. SCORE: 7.

Violence Factor.

There's a fight near the end of the film that tries to amp up the conflict, but I felt it was not needed. SCORE: 6.

Other Moral Issues.

Don't worry - these are just dates; most of the students don't do anything rash or "out of bounds".

This film is about figuring out who you should go with to prom - and who you should steer clear of. SCORE: 8.

Final Score (out of 60): 37 % Score: 61.67%.

This is an okay film, but I found too many characters and not enough plot.