By Heather Monahan
Features Assignment Editor
One of the most significant events in a young adult’s life is his or her 21st birthday. Whether or not people have hit this milestone age yet, they are sure to enjoy the antics the movie “21 and Over” has to offer.
The movie follows two college students, Casey and Miller, on a crazy night of celebrating their best friend Jeff’s (Justin Chon, “The Twilight Saga”) 21st birthday. However, their plans are soon foiled by Jeff’s oppressive father, who is very open about his distaste for his son’s friends, consistently reminding him of the medical school interview he has the next morning.
While Casey (Skylar Astin, “Pitch Perfect”), is deterred by his friend’s father, Miller (Miles Teller, “Footloose”), voices his opinion that they still need to go out to celebrate with a few drinks.
Of course, a few drinks turn into visiting every bar or club Jeff was ever denied entrance to and taking part in many birthday festivities. This leaves Casey and Miller to take care of an extremely inebriated Jeff, who can’t even open his eyes, let alone tell his friends how to get home on an unfamiliar college campus.
Casey and Miller realize their night is far from over when they attempt to track down people they met at the bars who seemed to have known Jeff. This in turn sends them on a journey through sorority houses, pep squad parties and a dormitory where they must complete the Tower of Power, a series of drinking games they must win to gain access to the top floor.
Their antics throughout the night end up landing them in some trouble with a Latina sorority as well as an angry pep squad captain who happens to be the boyfriend of Casey’s love interest, Nicole (Sarah Wright, “The House Bunny”).
While the movie is full of crude but hilarious jokes that will leave audiences with aching sides from laughing so hard, directors John Lucas and Scott Moore, both writers of “The Hangover,” balance the humor out with a serious storyline.
Although Jeff, Casey and Miller were best friends in high school, it’s clear that the three have changed in their years at college and have matured at different levels. The strain between Casey and Miller is particularly evident throughout the film as Miller constantly chides Casey for being too serious about his studies. Casey, in turn, finds himself annoyed with Miller’s immature attitude, telling his friend he needs to grow up.
As Miller and Casey continue to meet Jeff’s colleagues, they realize he too has changed since high school and their friend’s life is now a mystery to them. Each person the two friends’ meet divulges a new piece information to them.
After a successful night of avoiding Jeff’s father, who is determined to catch the boys partying, Casey and Miller end up having to break Jeff out of the hospital in a desperate attempt to get their friend back in time for his interview.
Despite poor reviews from critics according to Rotten Tomatoes, many fans have approved of the hysterical movie. The movie is a great coming-of-age film that can be considered “The Hangover” for college students.
