One of my favorite movies as a teen was ‘Little Darlings,’ starring Kristy McNichol and Tatum O Neal, about two girls vowing to lose their virginity at summer camp. Funny how time changes and things stay the same. That same concept is basically in the heart of Kay Cannon’s ‘Blockers,’ only this film has their parents trying to block three girls in accomplishing a similar pact. I have seen the trailer of this film a couple of times and it is marketed as one of those raunchy comedies, but I found it to have a big heart, ans that it says a lot more than it needed to.
First off, the performances. John Cena, Leslie Mann and Ike Barinholtz who plays the parents have perfect timing, and it is just comedy bliss when their characters are all together. But it’s the kids who give this film depth. No annoying millennial children here. These kids are fun but are in touch with their feelings, and act as straight to their crazy parents. Geraldine Viswanathan as Kayla steals every scene she is in, and I was almost sobbing at the romantic scene when Julie (Kathryn Newton) loses her v-card. If I were being honest, I would have liked this to be a straight coming-of-age romantic story about the three kids, but of course, that would not be as commercial as what this movie is now. But I can celebrate what I can get and how I get them.