Every once in a while, an heir apparent to the title of this era’s “Superbad” or “American Pie” materializes as if out of nowhere, often boasting a cast of relative unknowns and a premise extracted from its ancestors in an undeniable attempt to break new ground in this particular genre. “Sweethearts” is one such contender, an admirable effort with just enough charm to keep audience interest where it needs to be with an unfortunate handful of shortcomings that ultimately relegate this film to the realm of average.
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It’s not hard to foresee, especially as the opening credits establish more than enough backstory with its overused photo collage narrative trope telling us everything we need to know about our three leads, college freshmen Jamie (Kiernan Shipka), Ben (Nico Hiraga), and Palmer (Caleb Hearon). Though all three have enjoyed a close friendship for years, Jamie and Ben remain the closest, even as they endure the headaches associated with the long-distance relationships Jamie holds with polar opposite Simon (Charlie Hall) and Ben with high school senior Claire (Ava DeMary). Palmer, meanwhile, plans to use the upcoming break from his new life in Paris over Thanksgiving to officially come out to every past friend assembled in town for the holiday, which prompts Jamie and Ben to concoct their own scheme—terminate their respective relationships the night before the big day, traditionally seen by many as a night to reunite with anyone similarly back home from school and let loose. Yes, this so-named “Drunksgiving” is a real thing.
It’s not impossible to predict one presumable outcome, the discovery of untapped feelings between Jamie and Ben as the primary reason behind their impending breakups, and there does exist enough chemistry to promote this hypothesis to the top of the list, though just as many tangents stand in the way; in the process, “Sweethearts” becomes yet another “one wild night” romp, while Jamie and Ben peer over the edge into an abyss occupied by the likes of “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” far too often. Those early comparisons to a particular pair of teen comedies from 1999 and 2007 respectively continue to manifest throughout as well, whether it’s in the breakup pact, first act party scene that quickly goes sideways for our favorite couple, the bizarre childhood scandal that cast a reputation upon a young Jamie, or the requisite gross-out gag here and there; unfortunately, exposition-heavy dialogue only serves to bog down the momentum further, though this does begin to lessen as the film moves along. Even Christine Taylor‘s appearance at roughly the midpoint as Ben’s mom somehow manages to shift the overall feel, and not necessarily in the best way.
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However, it’s Palmer’s subplot that, without question, deserved to be extracted into its own film; following the failure of his plans to reveal his to everyone with whom he spent his first 18 years, an encounter with his former high school’s outwardly All-American football coach Reese (Tramell Tillman) and the discovery of the latter’s outwardly gay lifestyle, it immediately becomes the coach’s mission to assist Palmer in his quest to publicly make his announcement, while simultaneously learning a thing or two about the gay community ensconced within his hometown. Though Palmer’s detours can be undeniably charming, when paired with Jamie and Ben’s dilemma, the already compressed runtime of “Sweethearts” threatens to feel overstuffed.
It’s not a complete loss. Plenty of jokes stick the landing, while a star in the making can be seen in Tyler (Zach Zucker), Ben’s freeloader of a roommate, with a comedic style just as effortless. In her feature debut, director Jordan Weiss may have stopped somewhat short of the end zone, but there’s appreciation to be found in the potential for what’s next from all involved. It may not find a place of honor situated alongside those time-honored classics, but for what it sets out to achieve, it’s perfectly fine. [B]
“Sweethearts” is set to arrive on Max on November 28.