As they graduate with honours from high school, four friends feel they missed out on being cool. When they get invited to a party by a popular girl (Garner), they decide that this is the "summer of yes" and they'll do all the things they never did: drinking, drugs, sex, relationships. So Andy (Braun) seeks sexual experience with bored housewives before his Indian internet girlfriend (Lawrence) arrives for a visit; Nora (Deutch) falls in love with a hot older colleague (Coussins); The Lion (Arias) perfects his "high chi"; and Spice (Broussard) bakes the perfect souffle.

Performances are broad due to the rather overwritten comedy dialog, but the youthful cast is watchable. Braun manages to keep Andy charming even as his life spirals wildly out of control, while Deutsch just about sells Nora's romantic adventure through each painfully obvious plot point. Arias and Broussard add plenty of energy in less-defined comedy sidekick roles. And both Judd and Bichir have fun chomping on the scenery as a randy housewife and Andy's bulldog-like boss.

For a film full of young people obsessed with sex, there's nothing remotely sexy here (even the kissing is childish). Filmmaker McCoy seems to want to make a raucous gross-out comedy, but this is impossible when he takes such a prudish, moralising approach to everything, which leaves both the characters and situations feeling paper thin. As the plot contrives to make everything go wrong, the film just feels increasingly corny. Frankly, McCoy seems to find the fact that these four kids are heading to America's top universities much sexier than the life experiences they're seeking this summer.

There are some intriguing ideas in this movie, and the lead actors have enough charm to create vivid, meaningful characters. The best point the movie makes is that these nerds were never excluded from a party, they exiled themselves. And the bare bones of the plot show some potential. But every point along the way is painfully dumbed-down. Frankly, this kind of movie doesn't work without a willingness to push boundaries. And McCoy plays it safe right to the end.

themes, language, sexuality

19.Oct.16