Review of film: "PROM"

2011, 05-03:

Review of film:  “PROM”

This latest film from DISNEY deals with the trials & tribulations of planning for & attending a high school Prom...

...  Nova Prescott (AIMEE TEEGARDEN) is Class President and in charge of the Prom Committee...  For someone so apparently very smart & seemingly “on-the-ball”, she often has a hard time dealing with personal relationships, especially on a “romantic” basis...

...  For instance, she’s very fond of Committee member Brandon Roberts (JONATHAN KELTZ) who helps her with decorations for the Prom.  But, she’s unable to “show” her interest in him, & he seems “oblivious” to it all...

...  There’s actually a LOT of “unawareness” going on here.  Yes, I know it’s high school, but, it doesn't seem quite "real" (like "today's" kids), what with the way almost all the “main” characters have some “PROBLEMS” with their relationships centering around the Prom event:  

... The “Big Shot on Campus” is lacrosse-team captain Tyler Barso (DEVAUGHN NIXON)...  He’s supposedly “going with” pretty Jordan Lundley (KYLIE BUNBURY)...

...  But “B.S.” is indeed the proper description for DeVaughn, because he’s actually “TWO-TIMING” her, secretly also pursuing Simone Daniels (DANIELLE CAMPBELL), who doesn’t like the way he keeps giving untrustworthy statements to her...

...  A good deal younger & less “with-it” are junior lacrosse players Lucas Arnaz (NOLAN SOTILLO) & Corey Doyle (CAMERON MONAGHAN).  They’re great and close friends, both very into “alternative” rock groups & music in general.  Neither of them are very at-ease with GIRLS, but they try to encourage each other in that regard (especially on Cameron’s part)...

...  Because DeVaughn has seemingly gotten “back” with Kylie, Danielle has “avoided” him.  She’s gotten to like Nolan, & helps him with learning to play guitar.  He wants to ask her to go to the PROM with him (one of a series of people trying to ask each other), but keeps hesitating...

...  But, unbeknownst to Nolan, DeVaughn is trying to get back with Danielle, & she’s really the reason he invites NOLAN & his female “guest” (you-know-who!) to a party at his place...

...  As to the Prom-invitation tribulations, you’ll meet Mei Kwan (YIN CHANG) & Justin Wexler (JARED KUSNITZ).  They’ve been “together” for some time, & she’s basically happy he wants to invite her to the Prom--  but, she’s upset because she’s keeping a “SECRET” from him...

...  Lloyd Taylor (NICHOLAS BRAUN) is very “nerdy” & greatly lacks self-confidence.  His step-sister, Tess Torres (RAINI RODRIGUEZ), keeps urging him to GO to the Prom, and a number of scenes in the film concern his PROBLEMS when he tries to get various girls to go with him...

...  Aimee and her Prom team work very hard at preparing the decorations for their “STARRY NIGHT” Prom, storing all the things in a shed.  One of the people mentioned above accidentally causes a FIRE in the shed (that, weirdly in the script, no one bothers to even “investigate” in any way), & Aimee is very “crushed” & concerned what can be done to try to “REPLACE” things...

...  At one point, the school’s Principal Dunnan (JERE BURNS) gets very upset with an “uncaring”,  long-haired, motorcycle-riding Senior “slacker” named Jesse Richter (THOMAS McDONELL).  To teach him a “lesson”, he “forces” Thomas to help AIMEE with “rebuilding” her decorations for the Prom (that he very much does not care about)...

...  Thomas isn’t really a “bad” guy--  he’s very thoughtful to his 7-year-old-brother & their hard-working single mother.  But, when Jonathan sort of “bails” on Aimee re going with her to the Prom, she starts hoping THOMAS will take her (as she realizes he’s basically a hard-working nice guy)...

...  But, Aimee’s father Frank (DEAN NORRIS) doesn’t like Thomas’ “reputation” & tries to INTERFERE in his growing relationship with Aimee...

...  What truths will come out as the story unfolds?...  Will anyone “catch on” to the machinations of DeVaughn?...  Will Aimee’s father HURT her chances at having a date for the Prom?...  WHO will all the “main” characters end up with (if anyone) at the Prom?...

...  This is a pleasant movie, which is basically WELL-ACTED by the numerous characters (especially Thomas, Nolan, Cameron, Danielle and DeVaughn, who have the most “spice” inherently written into their roles)...

...  But, there’s nothing very “special” here, in that there’s little clever or “unusual” or really “unexpected” (in that most of the characters & situations are fairly “one-dimensional”)...  Accordingly, while I enjoyed it (& there are a few little laughs), I can only rate it at like 6.5 of 10 stars...

  (o_
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