Blu-ray Review: ‘21 & Over’ Wastes Funny Cast with Juvenile Humor

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CHICAGO – Have you ever been so drunk that you threw up in slow motion while riding a mechanical bull? Have you ever been so wasted that you stood on a bar and pissed on the people in front of you? Have you ever had a teddy bear glued to your junk at a party? Of course not. And you don’t know anyone else who has either.

Rating: 2.0/5.0

“21 & Over” takes a talented trio of guys, especially the great Miles Teller, who gives one of the best performances that you’ll see this year in August’s “The Spectacular Now,” and wastes their talent on humor that’s either gross or straight-up mean. Teller is forced to push too far into young Vince Vaughn territory, riffing in ways that make him sound more like a caricature than a real human being, while Skylar Astin gets the love interest arc that doesn’t connect.

Filled with sexist or racist jokes that the writers think are told with enough of a wink that they won’t be offensive, “21 & Over” just has a dark spirit that goes from out-there funny to stupid quickly. It’s somewhat miraculous that the two guys forced to do most of the heavy lifting in the movie keep it as entertaining as it is, which elevates it above the worthless “Project X” but still leaves it at about the level of an “American Pie” sequel.

The Blu-ray of “21 & Over” is a bit lackluster, matching the movie. The transfer looks kind of flat, although that could be because most of the movie was shot in low light, and the special features are scant.

21 and Over was released on Blu-ray and DVD on June 18, 2013
Photo credit: Fox

Synopsis:
From the writers of The Hangover comes a reckless and raunchy comedy 21 years in the making! On the day before a critical med school interview, straight-A college student Jeff Chang (Justin Chong, Twilight) gets a surprise visit from his two best buds (Skylar Astin, Pitch Perfect and Miles Teller, Project X) to celebrate his 21st birthday. In no mood to party, Jeff finally agrees to a single drink, which quickly leads to an over-the-top, out-of-control night filled with epic beer pong, smoking hot coeds…and one angry buffalo. Can Jeff’s friends get their plastered pal cleaned up in time for his morning appointment? It’s worth a shot!

Special Features:
o Tower of Power
o Levels of Intoxication
o Gag Reel

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com