"Blockers" (R, 1:42) is a comedy directed by Kay Cannon (writer and producer of the "Pitch Perfect" movies, but making her directorial debut here) and written by Brian Kehoe and Jim Kehoe (2005's "Overachievers"). In one 12-hour period, the story has raunchy fun with both teenage and adult sexuality, with adult and high school relationships also providing comic fodder - parent and teen, teens with each other and parents among themselves - while being reflective of the times in which we live.
Lisa (Leslie Mann), Hunter (Ike Barinholtz) and Mitchell (John Cena) are connected with each other because of the close, long-time friendship of their daughters, Julie (Kathryn Newton), Sam (Gideon Aldon) and Kayla (Geraldine Viswanathan), now high school seniors. Lisa is a lonely single mom who is unusually close to her daughter, Hunter is divorced from his daughter's mother and tries to be a fun and completely supportive absentee parent, while Mitchell is an overprotective, overly sentimental dad.
On the day of the high school prom, Julie tells her friends at lunch that she has decided to give her virginity to her boyfriend that night after the dance. Kayla quickly and enthusiastically embraces the idea for herself and her date. Sam is a bit more hesitant, seeming to have her mind on something else, but eventually decides to follow suit and - just like that - a "sex pact" is formed. Julie, Sam and Kayla and their dates gather at Sam's house for some pre-prom pics, while their parents exchange pleasantries in Sam's back yard. But things change after the kids leave, when an open computer reveals the girls' plans for the evening. This sends Lisa, Hunter and Mitchell into a panic, leading them to chase their daughters around town, trying to keep them from doing what these three parents believe would be a big mistake.
"Blockers" is very funny... and crude and open-minded and empowering. The laughs come from the antics of these well-meaning, but clueless parents, the ridiculous situations they get themselves into, and sexual and gross-out humor involving the girls' quest and their parents'... anti-quest. The story emphasizes the teens' need to make their own decisions regarding their sexual behavior - and the parents' need to come to terms with that - one way or another. Individual Movie Fans may not appreciate such a frank portrayal of teen sexuality and sexual autonomy, but it's not exploitive and it is thought-provoking and even a little touching, while being humorous. (It's funny enough for the laughter in a crowded auditorium to drown out some of the lines of dialog which follow an especially comical incident.) The characterizations of the adults are mainly one-dimensional (not entirely inappropriate, given that the three girls drive the plot), while the teenage characters are interesting and the actresses play them very well. Overall, this movie is fairly original and well-balanced and very entertaining. "A-"
