THE JAMS:“Hypnotize,“The Notorious B.I.G.
Bianca loves Joey (Andrew Keegan)!
Kat (Julia Stiles) loves nobody!
Credit: Ben Rothstein/Fox; Everett Collection (2)
Patrick (Heath Ledger) loves money!
So, Kat gets trashed, dances on a table, and throws up on a swing set.
Patrick won’t kiss Kat, but Bianca kisses Cameron (in the car).
Everett Collection
Meanwhile, Joey’s a bore and Michael can’t flirt.
In short: It’s just a party, and hell is just a sauna.
TOO REAL?In the practical sense, not so much.
Everett Collection
All the teenagers being deeply frustrated and having no idea what to do about it?
That’s one thing we know to be true.
The whole senior class has been invited, and approximately 500 pizzas have been ordered.
Annapurna Pictures
Just try not to get stuck at weird side parties on the way.
And that’s not to mention who makes out with whom!
Most surprising of all, though, is what Molly and Amy discover about each other.
Ben Rothstein/Fox
Isn’t that always how it goes?
TOO REAL?Um, hello, it’s thenight before graduation.
There is no tomorrow, and that urgency is as real as it gets.
Everett Collection
This is a friendly, feel-good teen movie, so everyone’s invited.
THE JAMS:“Feel It Still,“Portugal.
The only thing to do is imbibe copious amounts of alcohol and sing your heart out to someBieberkaraoke.
Paramount
TOO REAL?I mean, sort of.
Our heroes get too drunk, yes.
and she says the party “felt like I was watching it from across the room.”
Everett Collection
Redeemed by the angst!
The girls' shopping list of hard lemonade and gimmicky vodka?Verylegit.
Everything that ever happens, throughout the entire movie, involving McLovin?
Everett Collection
LEGIT-O-METER:
Clueless(1995)
THE INVITE:Ugh, a Valley party.
Worth a cameo, though.
TOO REAL?Um, as if!
Columbia Tristar/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock
I mean, what teenage girl has a wardrobe full of Alaia dresses?
And then wears one of them to a party in theValley, of all places?
This is the night we’ve been waiting for!
Everett Collection
Why else have we been friends with Stifler all this time?
THE JAMS:“Mrs. Robinson,” Simon & Garfunkel
THE DRAMA:The night has arrived.
Our quartet of heroes shall fulfill their pact and be virgins no more.
Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) finally sleeps with his girlfriend Vicky (Tara Reid).
Johnson), and then a rap battle with each other.
Kid’s dad comes to the door.
Kid’s bullies come to the door.
Kid flirts with Sharane, despite preferring Sidney, in an effort to cultivate multiple options.
Sharane does the same, even though she doesn’t really care about anyone.
Sidney watches all of it, sadly.
Now’s his chance, and ifBarry Manilowon the radio isn’t a sign, then what is?
“Maybe it was a hero’s trial,” Preston says, believing all hope is lost.
“It would have been cool to make out with her, though.”
Ah, the sweet poetry of adolescence.
They leave for the weekend.
Thomas has a little party.
And do they ever.
The neighbor shows up.
The cops show up (twice).Miles Tellershows up in a party bus.
The drug dealer shows up with a flamethrower.
The dog’s on a wire and there’s ecstasy inside the stolen gnome.
You want to know the drama?
Where do we even begin?
TOO REAL?Forget the minutiae of how it goes down.
This party is more than itslogistics.
It can’t be measured in partygoers, in empty Solo cups, or in disturbing-the-peace decibels.
This party transcends such metrics.
Don’t let the found footage fool you.Project Xis pure fantasy.
