“Incoming,” a raucous teen comedy directed by Dave and John Chernin, begins with a familiar scene: an awkward teenage boy (Mason Thames) practices a speech about his crush, only to be revealed as rehearsing in front of a mirror. This clichéd opening raises concerns about the film’s originality, suggesting that the Chernins, who also wrote the script, rely heavily on tried-and-true gags.
The film’s narrative, which explores the escapades of high school freshmen at a wild house party, follows a predictable path, offering minimal laughs and surprises. Anticipate the arrival of a charming girl to be highlighted in a slow-motion sequence, and expect interruptions during romantic moments courtesy of immature humor. Will the nerd win over the popular girl? Will the unruly teacher escalate the chaos? Cue the comedic sound effects.
One could argue that “Incoming” is a derivative homage to classic teen comedies. However, it ultimately feels outdated. The movie draws heavily from the gross-out films of the late ’90s and early 2000s, such as “American Pie” and “Van Wilder,” which themselves borrowed from the teen sex comedies of the 1980s like “Porky’s” and “Screwballs.” This lack of originality leaves audiences questioning its value.
Instead of fresh content, the film offers an escalation of crudeness: swapping beer bongs for lines of ketamine and replacing fart jokes with more extreme situations. While some may view this as a step forward, it seems the filmmakers missed the mark.
“Incoming” is rated R for strong language, drug use, sexual innuendo, mild violence, and antics reminiscent of “Porky’s.” Its runtime is 1 hour and 31 minutes, and it is available for streaming on Netflix.