PLOT: When a couple of friends find themselves fired from their cleaning job, they decide to make the most of the situation. Upon the discovery they are cleaning the legendary LeBron James’ home, they make a pact to bring the House Party there while the homeowner is away on retreat.
REVIEW: In 1990, Christopher Reid and Christopher Martin (AKA Kid ‘N Play) gave audiences a laugh in House Party. Several less-than-stellar sequels followed up the funny feature. Considering the quality of each installment lessened rapidly, you can’t keep a franchise down. Kid ‘N Play may have been all partied out after the third film, but it didn’t stop the franchise from continuing. We now have the latest, a new take on the original film. And while the storyline here is ridiculous and shouldn’t work, the latest House Party is a fun flick with an abundance of cool cameos. And besides, we don’t get enough “stoner comedies” lately, so this is certain to please a number of you while partaking.
Jacob Latimore is Kevin. He’s a nice enough guy trying to create a good life for his daughter. However, his best friend Damon (Tosin Cole) tends to invite trouble on the regular. When the two are caught on camera smoking weed while at their cleaning assignment, their current gig becomes their last. The pair get lucky, however, when they discover they are currently cleaning the home of LeBron James. With the two officially out of work once the day ends, Damon has an idea. You see, he’s a wannabe influencer and party promoter. Why not just have a massive party at King James’ humble abode? It’s silly, but if you can buy into that storyline, you may have some fun with how wild the party gets.
There’s a satisfaction you find when pleasantly surprised by a movie. It’s hard to say how well a remake like this will play with modern audiences and critics. Ultimately when stepping into a film such as this, you want to laugh and have a good time. And the small collection of critics at my screening appeared to be laughing. And yes, I did, too—quite a bit. Director Calmatic and screenwriters Steven Glover and Jamal Olori are very aware of the movie they are making. And man, does this one get weird. Aside from the F-bombs, the music, and the comedy on display, you also have a surprisingly bloody sequence and a spaced-out Koala. And don’t forget the whole basketball thing. It’s a whole lot to put in one goofy comedy.
Replacing Kid ‘N Play, the energy between Jacob Latimore and Tosin Cole is infectious. The two actors are good together. Even when they attempt to make you believe that the idea of this plot isn’t utterly insane in the membrane. You also have a hilarious performance from Allen Maldonado as a DJ that needs to stay away from cannabis to the terrific Andrew Satino as a neighbor with a crazed koala. Karen Obilom is a delight as Kevin’s shockingly understanding current flame. And then there are insane cameos that include Bill Bellamy, Mya, Snoop Dogg, and that talented basketball star with that amazing house may show up for a spell. Just wait to see the virtual image that helps get him through the day.
As weird as this flick gets, it’s ultimately the two leads that connect it all. Again, you cannot help but scratch your head at the audacity of these two, but it’s an enjoyable ride. While some jokes may not land, there is enough to bring on laughter. And at a relatively short runtime, it’s an easily digestible hour and forty minutes or so that manages to entertain for the majority of the film. Sure, the last act gets bizarre at times. Still, it’s well worth it to see a very different side of a famous artist. It’s a fellow who has already impressed with his performance at the beginning of a recent horror trilogy – while he doesn’t have his name listed for this film on IMDb, I’ll let you figure that one out. Either way, he’s terrific.
House Party could have easily been dreck; frankly, for many critics, it still will be. Yet I found myself enjoying the insanity for what it is. It’s a sufficiently well-made feature that offers laughs. The music is pumping, the comedic elements work well, and the cast is game. Even though I do have a weakness for the grand tradition of “stoner comedies,” I’m happy that this did enough right to make for a fun moviegoing experience. After sifting through the recent Academy Award-worthy stories over the past few months, you may find a little relief watching a dumb comedy about two dudes throwing a party at LeBron James’ abode. House Party starts this Friday, the 13th! Light up, sit back, and enjoy.
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