The bad thing about being connected with so many film fans from all over the world is that it can become exhausting, and quite expensive, to try and keep up with the many recommendations you can receive. The good far outweighs the bad though, and one upside is remembering some of those titles when you're after a particular kind of title for your latest viewing choice. I had started watching Incoming a few weeks ago, but general life stuff had interrupted my movie time, which meant I gave up on it and didn't think it worth rushing back to. Then I heard it recommended by a good friend of mine on a podcast that he co-hosts. So I figured I would trust him (and that isn't always advisable, but this time around I am glad that I did).
Mason Thames is Benj Nielsen. He's about to start his first year of being at high school, which means he has to do something to redefine his personality as he wades through some dangerous freshman waters. He has some good friends in Connor (Raphael Alejandro) and Eddie (Ramon Reed), but the trio have to split up when a party thrown by the older brother of their mutual friend, Danah (Bardia Seiri), only has room for one of them to get in the mix with the older guests. Benj sees it as a chance to really shoot his shot with Bailey (Isabella Ferreira), but that's complicated by the fact that she's both a) a bit older than him, and b) a good friend of his sister, Alyssa (Ali Gallo). Meanwhile, Connor and Eddie end up unwillingly driving around Katrina (Loren Gray), a young woman who has partied far too hard and won't tell them where she lives until they first get along to a Taco Bell.
The feature directorial debut for brothers Dave Chernin and John Chernin, who have done some excellent work on the small screen with a couple of shows called It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia and The Mick, Incoming is another near-perfect example of how to deliver a great teen comedy for audiences who can't be served up the same kind of gags and gratuitous nudity that used to be a staple of the sub-genre, but would now be considered ugly and problematic viewed through a more modern and progressive lens. There are some gags and moments here that would work at any time, but one or two moments feel all the better for the feeling that some kind of balance is being redressed (the car scenes, for example, feel very much like a much more amusing and updated riff on a story strand in Sixteen Candles that has not aged well). The Chernin brothers are smart enough to update some tropes without feeling as if they're neutering them, and they're smart enough to know that a lot of the laughs can come from a good mix of characters, portrayed by cast members who feel just right in their roles.
Thames is a strong lead, naive and vulnerable enough to root for, even as he mistakenly changes himself for the benefit of approval from people he shouldn't care about. Alejandro and Reed are equally good, and both get to be involved in one of the funniest set-pieces in the entire film. Both Feirreira and Gallo have fun in their roles, the former being very cool and coveted by young Benj, the latter being quick to cut down anyone around her as she rolls her eyes and pretends to be cool about her ex-partner being in a new relationship, and Loren Gray deserves some praise for her commitment to a seriously unflattering role. Seiri is amusingly smooth/sneaky, Kayvan Shai is entertaining as his older brother, and someone who is keen to use violence whenever possible, and there are superb contributions from Thomas Barbusca (a stoner causing some trouble), Bobby Cannavale (a teacher trying to stay cool with the kids, but hoping to not go too far overboard), Scott MacArthur (an inconsiderate man who happens to be dating Eddie's mother), and Kaitlin Olson (who essentially bookends the film to advise/chastise her children).
It starts off a bit sedate and mild, and you may think (as I did) that it's not going to be worth your time, but give this a chance and you'll find yourself letting out some big laughs as things escalate. The momentum builds nicely, there's a fine soundtrack accompanying the many party scenes, it doesn't outstay its welcome (the runtime is a pretty perfect 91 minutes), and there's a finale that is as smile-inducing and satisfying as it is wonderfully cheesy. Just fantastic fun all around.
8/10
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