Summary

Incoming
fails to make viewers invested in characters due to a lack of depth and compelling motivations.
The movie emphasizes nostalgic elements over establishing a contemporary connection with Gen-Z audiences.

Incoming
‘s absurd humor is not fully developed, leaving the film feeling disjointed and failing to justify its outlandish choices.

Netflix’s newest foray into teen comedies, Incoming (2024) , harkens back to the golden age of high school party flicks but does little to subvert the well-worn genre. Written and directed by two veterans of TV comedy, Dave and John Chernin, in their feature debut, it’s obvious the sibling duo grew up watching classic films set in high school. The movie follows a group of freshmen boys in their first week of high school and the rager they get invited to. Starring Mason Thames as Benji, the lovable but boring protagonist, Incoming has funny moments, but it never hits its stride.

It’s interesting to see a new film that caters so clearly to the fantasy wish fulfillment of teenage boys. In the past few years, I’ve seen a distinct push away from the archetype of the so-called “high school loser” and his quest to earn respect and popularity. However, it’s a misconception that audiences aren’t interested in dirty comedies and R-rated teen films, as recent projects like Bottoms and Do Revenge have found strong fanbases. Though Incoming presents itself as part of this new wave of edgy modern media, the closest it gets is through some explicit language.

Incoming Tries To Right The Wrongs Of Past Teen Comedies
Though it’s chock-full of teenage boy humor and raunchiness, Incoming doesn’t want to offend you

Incoming isn’t one of those rare movies that perfectly defines Gen-Z, but it’s clear the Chernins don’t want it to be. Throughout Incoming, I got the sense that if the filmmakers could have set the movie in the late 1990s or early 2000s, they would have. I appreciate that Incoming isn’t about the internet or social media; that subject is overdone. There are a few shots of TikTok, but the characters are remarkably present. I’m not interested in seeing directors of different generations attempt to capture the vernacular of Gen-Z, either, but I wanted some connections to contemporary culture.

Incoming’s central characters, Benji (Mason Thames), Connor (Raphael Alejandro), Koosh (Bardia Seiri), and Eddie (Ramon Reed), attend a generic school full of no remarkable quirks. The pacing is all over the place, with too much time wasted on scenes before and after the party that do little to develop characters or establish exposition. Besides the fact that being freshmen automatically puts them at the bottom of the social hierarchy, we never see life or high school as something particularly harsh or difficult for the characters. All the conflicts and stakes rely on our existing perception that high school sucks and parties are cool.

If
Incoming
had rooted itself fully in the absurd, I would have been more invested in the character’s journeys.

Tonally, there are inconsistencies, as the movie doesn’t lean far enough into the absurdist aspects of the humor to justify some of its more outlandish choices. If Incoming had rooted itself fully in the absurd, I would have been more invested in the characters’ journeys. Mr. Studebaker, played by Bobby Cannavale, is one of the few adults who makes more than a passing appearance. However, I couldn’t discern why he attended the party or what made him important in the narrative. The movie he was in felt like a separate piece from the boys’ coming-of-age adventures.

Incoming was in conversation with themes and movies that were discussed to death a long time ago. When Connor and Eddie go on their side quest with the most popular and beautiful girl in school, I recall the famously problematic moment in one of John Hughes’ movies, Sixteen Candles, when the nerd “gets” the popular girl. While it’s lovely and refreshing to see two young boys with a conscience, we unpacked the issues of older comedies years ago. Incoming doesn’t just lack the material to be part of the contemporary era, it lacks the mindset.

Incoming Doesn’t Develop Its Characters, Or Make Us Care About Them
A few inspired bits help round out our lack of investment

What the Chernins fail to realize about the iconic shoes they’re attempting to fill is that what makes films like Superbad or even Bottoms so watchable is their characters, not the gross-out humor and curse words. I have no idea who the characters are outside their singular personality traits that motivate their every decision. Whether they get the girl or get to sit at the cool table isn’t important when I don’t care about these kids. Thanks to their quippy remarks and hijinks, I don’t mind spending time with them, but it isn’t the same as being invested.

The movie sits in a genre that’s near and dear to my heart, and I care deeply about the future of smaller-budget comedies finding their audience. But I’ve seen this story before in many iterations, and I’ve seen it done much better. Incoming has funny moments, and the young actors deliver their lines with the commitment of seasoned professionals every step of the way. However, as I was watching, I was endlessly reminded that watching Incoming’s influences would have been more enjoyable.

Incoming is now available to stream on Netflix.