User Reviews

'21 & over' is the latest buddy comedy inspired by 'The Hangover.' It has a similar story to 'The Hangover' except the drinking rampage is the story rather than the morning after.

This film was surprisingly good! I think the last film I saw was 'Movie 43' and that made me lose faith in laughter and happiness… Anyway, '21 & over' certainly isn't the funniest comedy ever but there are a decent amount of laughs and cringe moments. Of course, towards the end the story does go totally over the top. This is a modern classic aspect of American comedies these days so I guess it is just something we will have to get used to. Thankfully, it doesn't really send the film into a downward spiral as it is still redeemable.

The characters in this film are all pretty funny in their own way and the characters you are supposed to like are genuinely likable. The story deals with a lot of important issues in a bizarrely light-hearted manner which is quite odd. A lot of the supporting characters are really funny so you're glad to see them each time they pop up throughout the film. I anticipated a lot of rubbish, cheap racist Asian jokes to be dotted all over the script but only a few did and they were from a character that seemed like the kind of person who would say those kinds of jokes. This was quite relieving, the film did its best to make jokes and references that people of a similar age would recognise and find funny.

Overall, this film is nonsense but the people who created it know this and don't try to pretend it's anything else. This is a good film to watch with your friends and I imagine, once it is released on DVD, will be a popular film for drinking games. Beer Pong anyone?

If the "The Hangover" and "Project X" were fused together to make one new film, the result would be "21 and Over." From the same writers of the Hangover, Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, "21 and Over" is a film that taps into the college demographic by concentrating on some of the issues that affect a lot of students throughout the United States — binge drinking, beer pong games, sex and parties.

This comedy follows three best friends who have fallen out of touch since graduating from high school and transitioning into college. They try to meet up on important occasions, in this case Jeff Chang's (Justin Chon) birthday.

Jeff Chang is finally turning 21 and with that age his best friends, Casey (Skylar Astin) and Miller (Miles Teller), believe comes a new stage in Chang's life; one filled with alcohol and girls.

Chang is a straight-A student who is preparing for an upcoming interview to gain admittance to medical school. In addition to his med school interview, Chang has to worry about his strict father who expects him to follow his family's legacy in becoming a doctor.

For his 21st birthday, Casey and Miller surprise him and take him on a night out. Chang agrees to go out on the condition that they only go for a few drinks and then return home.

They start the night off with a round of drinks, but soon enough begin club hopping, drinking alcohol everywhere they go. The night takes an unexpected turn when Jeff Chang becomes unresponsive after overdrinking.

Following the same formula used in "The Hangover," "21 and Over" attempts to win audiences over by using a lot of crude humor including many physical jokes.

Miles Teller (Miller) takes most of the spotlight with his straightforward dialogue and comedic timing. Justin Chon (Jeff Chang) further pushes the comedy bar with his use of physical humor. Skylar Astin (Casey) plays the typical preppy and awkward sidekick.

Even with a pleasant cast, the film fails to present anything original or creative. While it offers a few laughs, too many scenes are either lackluster, or exaggerated, and some of the humor is forced.

"The Hangover" was much more imaginative than "21 and Over," which has fewer plot twists and a rushed ending.

Even worse, the film reinforces all possible stereotypes including the smart Asian, the party alcoholic white male, crazy Latinas, and out of control college students.

The film is far from a masterpiece. However, if one day after a long day of class or work you simply want to have a few brainless laughs with friends, then "21 and Over" may be the movie for you.

"21 and Over" is like a 21st Century version of "Animal House" and "Porky's" - only this one comes with a bit of a social conscience, as befits the times we live in.

Miles Teller, Skylar Astin. and Justin Chon play buddies from childhood, now ending their time in college, who reunite to celebrate the 21st birthday of one of them, Jeff Chang (Chon). Astin's Casey is the stuffed shirt who's already on the fast track to a career on Wall Street after he graduates; Chon's Jeff is the stressed-out A-student whose dad is pressuring him to ace a med school interview the next day; and Teller's Miller is the Stiffler-type wise-ass who refuses to grow up, convinced that the only life worth living is one patterned after the "American Pie" movies.

Against their better judgment, Astin and Teller- take Chon out for a celebratory bender, resulting in what anyone with any knowledge of how these things customarily work out in the movies can plainly predict. Yet, beyond all the drinking, brawling, sex rituals and generalized pandemonium, "21 and Over" actually has some poignant things to say about friendship and finding that fine line between becoming a mature adult and selling out to a life devoid of fun and joy. Luckily, the screenplay by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore (who also directed the film together) doesn't overdo it in the moralizing department, neatly balancing the insights with a steady stream of ultra-crass frat-boy hijinks. The movie even has some fun skewering the misogyny and sexual double standards that prevail among some of the male youth of today.

The movie is helped immeasurably by the performers who bring both humor and heart to the proceedings. They make the nonsense not only bearable but actually quite enjoyable at times.

"From the writers of 'The Hangover'" comes "21 and Over," another comedy about people getting really drunk and then having a bunch of crude and insane things happen to them. The difference here is that the three leads are not trying to find their buddy; they're instead trying to find their buddy's house. Oh, and the buddy whose house they're trying to find has passed out and has to be carried from place to place as the circumstances around them continue to get more dire.

Let's back up a bit. It's Jeff Chang's (Justin Chon) 21st birthday. He's a pre-med student who has a big interview the next morning. His best friends, Miller (Miles Teller) and Casey (Skylar Astin), have come to his apartment to surprise him and take him out for drinks, as is the American custom. Upon learning that the biggest interview of his life is the next day, Casey does the responsible thing and says that those plans can be postponed. Miller threatens to keep Jeff Chang up all night if he doesn't come out. "One drink," we're told. Like that's going to happen.

We don't even see Jeff Chang resist the party once it starts. He's loaded by the time we've zoomed forward in time, and only gets worse over the montage depicting the group's bar-hopping. Eventually, he's passed out and time is running out to get him home and to bed. The other two friends are from out of town -- they've all separated once college started, I guess -- so they don't know their way around. They spend nearly the rest of the film attempting to get him into bed before 7AM.

Doesn't this sound familiar? Three guys trolling around a certain location in hopes of finding something, or someone? While doing so, they find themselves in a bunch of "I can't believe it" situations, while also learning things about the others that perhaps should have been better left a secret. When Casey and Miller find a gun in Jeff Chang's pocket, and later learn that he was arrested by the police, we have a mystery on our hands. One whose conclusion is mishandled so badly that I thought there must have been an alternate ending.

It feels too similar, I suppose. We've seen movies that contain situations more shocking than this. When a guy gets run over by a buffalo -- which we don't actually get to see, by the way, because the camera cuts to black before impact -- that winds up being one of the more "crazy" points of the film. Sure, a couple of other moments are funny at the time, if only because at least one of the guys -- Casey -- doesn't seem like he deserved to be put through them, but they're kind of bland for the genre.

There are a few running gags scattered throughout -- always calling Jeff Chang by his full name being one of them -- but most of the humor in "21 and Over" comes from the situations themselves. That can work for some people. Many of you might find a lot of the film funny. It wasn't for me. Watching stupid people act pretty stupid and have bad things happen to them isn't the funniest thing in the world. Like I said, there are a few good moments, but not enough of them to fill the 90-minute running time.

Moving away from the amount of laughter, which is about all that matters in a comedy, the dialogue also leaves a lot to be desired. The film was written and directed by "The Hangover" writers, after all, so that should be expected. It's all profane and silly, and accomplishes one of two things: exposition or forced character development. The dialogue itself rarely attempts to make us laugh. That's a problem, since there's a good deal of time spent walking from place to place.

It says a lot about our main characters that they wind up being chased and/or hated by everyone they come into contact with. They wind up being hunted by at least three groups of people as the film progresses, all of whom show up seemingly at random. These groups are often forgotten about until the script calls for them to pop up for a few minutes. You forget, too, and it makes their reappearances seem to come out of the blue. Sure, the film is about these three guys -- although it's really two of them because Jeff Chang isn't awake for most of his screen time -- but if you want to continue bringing back these secondary characters, at least treat them with a little respect.

I'm sure that all of these actors have talent. Justin Chon turns in the best performance in the film whenever he's awake. Skylar Astin was in "Pitch Perfect" and fared much better there. He delivers every line with great sincerity, but that doesn't work with this type of character. Miles Teller was in "Project X," and plays the same type of role here. He isn't good in either.

"21 and Over" is pretty much the exact type of movie that you expect it to be. If you think "The Hangover" is funny, you'll probably find this movie hilarious as well. It has issues with its characters, dialogue and situations, but if you find it funny you probably won't notice. I didn't like "21 and Over," but if it sounds like your type of thing, you'll probably get some enjoyment out of it.

This movie has gotten pretty beaten up but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a college drinking stupidity movie! Fun watch!

From the brilliant writers of Old School (2003) and The Hangover (2009), comes a college-set comedy about the raucous life of college partying and the debauchery that ensues. This film follows college students Miller and Casey (played by Miles Teller and Skylar Astin), who hope to take their friend Jeff Chang (played by Justin Chon) out for a drink for his 21st birthday. Chang is initially reluctant as he has an interview of medical school the following day set by his hard-nose dad Mr. Chang. Ultimately, Jeff accepts and goes out for a wild night at the bar with his friends. However, what was supposed to a quick night of a few drinks unexpectedly turns into a night of endless debauchery when the Jeff Chang becomes passed out drunk and Miller and Casey cannot remember where he lives.

While this movie isn't anything original as it follows nearly the same plot as The Hangover, a group of friends who get wasted, lose one of their friends and can't remember what happened the previous night, it surprisingly still brought out the laughs and humor the writers of The Hangover have been made known for. I certainly can't say this rises near the level of The Hangover however. The humor and the dialogue are not as inspired or funny, some of the sex jokes here feel a bit forced and over-the-top, most of which come out of the mouth of Miles Teller's character. There is also a rather heavy use of gross-out humor, the scene in the bathroom at the sorority house, for an example. Then there are some moments that are quite a bit clever. Miles Teller, Skylar Astin, and Justin Chon show some great comedic chemistry with each other. Teller plays Miller who is quite vulgar and raucous, despite the chaos that ensues during their night, while Skylar Astin plays Casey who is more smart and more serious about the situations that takes place. Then Chon who's character spends the majority of the film passed out and heavily intoxicated, subconscious of everything that goes on.

21 & Over is a worthy movie for comedy fans. However, this film could have been better if it wasn't too similar to The Hangover series. Overall, it made me laugh and it had some good moments in it.

Watched "21 and Over" last night at an advanced screening so sharing a review for those wondering about it.

If you should use other films/media to describe "21 and Over", it is like a combination of "Hang Over", "American Pie", and "Jackass". If describing in one sentence, "21 and Over" is stupid drunkenness or drunk galore? It is an enjoyable film and I would recommend it for those who enjoy dirty slapstick humor and just college craziness. I wouldn't feel the need to watch this film again and it isn't an Oscar nominee type of film, but If you like watching drunk people, this film is for you.

I admit, I like watching this type of films from time to time, but a big reason I was interested in this film was because I liked the writers' Jon Lucas and Scott Moore's other pieces, the popular "Hang Over" film series and "Change Up". I did assume that "21 and Over" would be structured and directed just like "Hang Over but "21 and Over" does not have the story-telling abilities that "Hang Over" has nor are the story, plot, resolution, and characters anywhere as interesting. One's own experiences and perspectives change with age, and Lucas and Moore are out of touch with the current 20s generation as the dialogue, story development, and characters in "21 and Over" are old, clichéd, and stereotypical.

The movie took a while to pick up the pace. Surprisingly and thankfully Jeff Chang is not the main focus in this film, nothing against the actors (these newcomers did a great job), but the supposed main character burned through his drinking and bar scenes early on in a series of montages.

Some of the likable aspects of this movie are the timing of the stunts and how outrageous the stunts are. When it seemed like the film would end soon or run out of tricks, the characters' rolling ball of chaos just got bigger and bigger. The stunts pulled now a day for slapstick humor are getting more outrageous and openly, visually sexual. If nothing, Lucas and Moore get kudos for fresh stunts. Perhaps they spent the time they were supposed to use for brainstorming dialogue and story development, watching "Jackass" instead.

In the end this film is still enjoyable because it's not like this film's audience watches these kinds of films for the dialogue nor accurate representation of cultural identities. All that matters is that the slapstick stunts and moderate dirtiness of the film is enough to not leave a silent house. For sure, the high school kids during the advanced screening got a kick out of it, hoping their college life can be that fun? Crazy at least.

Review by WendyXS@FeiXiangFilms

I remember when I watched this movie back then in 2013, I laughed so hard that my stomach hurt. It was the funniest movie I had ever watched, and now that I have watched it for the second time after 10 years in 2023, it is still amazing and funny. Despite the negative reviews it received from some critics, it is a wonderful movie, and you won't regret watching it. And you will enjoy every minute of it. The film is suitable for anyone who likes comedy and wants to have a good time, and the end of the movie made me feel nostalgic for the good old days, and I wish they would make a sequel. Because it is one of my favorites.

This film is about the first 24 hours of a straight A student's 21st birthday.

"21 & Over" is a toned down college version of "The Hangover". The plot is very similar to "The Hangover", and it is wearing thin. Though the parties are ridiculous and the alcohol is plentiful, we all know what will happen and hence the plot does not have the same entertaining effect as the first time around. Fortunately, the subplot of testing the strained friendship and standing up for oneself is a bit refreshing, so "21 & Over" sets itself as slightly different from its parent clone. The Asian female student who swears a lot is the most memorable character, and she deserves a special mention. Her one minute of screen time is so unexpectedly crazy! "21 & Over" is an average comedy, if judged on its own merit. But please, enough with the "The Hangover" clones.

"21 and Over" could celebrate that miraculous moment when the final barrier to adulthood falls by the wayside, as the act of legally buying alcohol instantly goes from forbidden act to routine. However, the movie just uses the moment as a springboard to a cynical college-age "Hangover" redo with far fewer developed characters and even less inventive adventures. This is the directorial debut of Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, who wrote "The Hangover (2009)." "21 & Over" pretends to take chances even as it retraces the same sequences we've already seen in movies like--well--"The Hangover." It's hard to completely hate "21 & Over," but you cannot really laugh at it either. The most you can do is just pity it for not being as outrageous as it thinks it is.

It's cheap comedy sure, it's the continuing tradition of American Pie, Hangover, Project X and the like. You've seen one, you've seen them all. However it does it's pretty well and if you simply want a film about drunkenness to make you laugh this is it, it won't win any Oscars, comedies rarely do.

The stunts and jokes get to the point of ridiculous, but they are at least consistent, it's one of those movies that seem to have an endless night, think Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist but there is a plot to it, even if it's not that deep. It worked well if you find this sort of film amusing, if you don't then it won't change your opinion

I am a huge fan of movies and am always willing to give them a chance. Even if they receive bad ratings, I will usually wait until after I watch them to make my own decisions.

This movie may have been one of the worst movies I've seen this year. I absolutely loved the Hangover and thought Hangover 2 was decently funny. This movie made me laugh maybe twice. It is as raunchy as the Hangover I and II, but it lacks wit. It makes lame attempts at jokes, which are often just racial slapstick. Honestly, when the movie ended I was glad.

The only good thing I got out of this movie was a new idea for a fraternity party called tower of power.

Save your time and your money. This movie gave me a headache and was no fun to watch.

I went in watching this movie expecting it to be a completely rip off of "The Hangover". Well instead I was pleasantly surprised. Yes in ways you can see "The Hangover" in this movie, but you also get a movie in its own. "21 & Over" never gives off more than it gives, which is a bunch of laughs. If you go into this movie not expecting much you will be satisfied. Miles Teller does not disappoint in the movie as he is responsible for a lot of the laughs. "21 and Over" does have its fair share of flaws and dull scenes which is the biggest let down because of the timing of them. But if you want a good laugh and possible flashback moments of your 21st birthday, this should be watched with a beer in hand and not taken too seriously. 6 of 10 stars-BUY USED

We originally went to the cinema to watch Star Trek or Iron man 3. However as I sat in the pub with my friend before hand we decided we fancied another pint, however we didn't have time if we were to see Star Trek or Iron Man. I then made the horrific decision to check my iPhone and saw that 21 and over was on an hour later than those two films. Great, time for another beer.

I was aware that this film looked quite poor from the trailer and copious amounts of bad reviews, however, as i walked into the cinema, merry after a few beers i thought it may be a nice easy watching movie with a few cheap laughs. I was wrong.

This film is poor. Very poor.

It is a very familiar concept, a guy has the biggest exam of his life and his friends decide to try and persuade him to go out the night before and get completely wrecked. Of course he refuses at first and then of course he gives in.

The acting is poor, the script is awful and the characters are awful. None of them are funny or even slightly likable. The over the top scenes which are trying so hard to be funny, fail on so many levels. A pathetic, cringe worthy love story is also thrown into the middle of this movie which is just down right ridiculous.

I don't know what else to say really, apart from, don't go and see this movie.

'21 & OVER': Four Stars (Out of Five)

An 80s style youth party flick from the writers of 'THE HANGOVER' (Jon Lucas and Scott Moore)! Lucas and Moore wrote the film and also make their directorial debut. It tells the story of a straight-A student who agrees to go out drinking for his 21st birthday, the night before a big medical school interview his domineering father set up for him. It stars Skylar Astin (of 'PITCH PERFECT' fame), Miles Teller (of 'PROJECT X' fame) and Justin Chon (of 'TWILIGHT' fame). The movie has been compared to other similar teen sex/party films (like last year's 'PROJECT X') as well as the great 'HANGOVER'. I'd say while it doesn't match the greatest of all drunk party films ('THE HANGOVER') it does make a very nice and somewhat classic (in its own right) youth gone wild film all the same.

Chon plays Jeff Chang (who's full name is used at all times, even by his two best friends, which some say is racism), a straight-A college student who's been studying to be a doctor. His two best friends, Casey (Astin, who looks an awful lot like a younger Dane Cook) and Miller (Teller), who haven't seen Jeff in a while, decide to show up at his place on his 21st birthday to take him out partying. They are startled to find Jeff's father, Dr. Chang (Francois Chau), there. Dr. Chang informs the two boys that Jeff can not go out drinking with them at all because he has an important medical school meeting the next morning that he set up for him. After the doctor leaves Miller continues to harass Jeff into going out with them, all the same, until Jeff gives in and agrees to go out for one drink. One drink turns into several, Jeff becomes too drunk to walk or talk and the boys can't remember where he lives. So they spend the rest of the night trying to track down someone who does so they can get him home in time for his big interview.

The movie has a very similar formula and style to 'THE HANGOVER' and while it might not be as good as that classic film it is better than it's first sequel (and probably it's second). Director Todd Philips would have been much wiser to keep the writing team of the original 'HANGOVER' instead of replacing them with himself and others (which of course got them much weaker results). As this movie proves Lucas and Moore know how to keep the classic 'drunks gone wild for one night of total mayhem' formula going without ruining it or making it seem old. The acting is all more than adequate (There's also a beautiful and extremely likable girl in the film, named Sarah Wright) and Lucas and Moore actually make great party film directors as well. Fans of these types of movies definitely won't go wrong here. I saw it as party of a double feature (I created; at Regal's $5 movie night in Corvallis) with 'THE LAST EXORCISM PART II'. Seeing an 80s style teen sex/party flick with an 80s style B horror film was a great match up and while both were enjoyable (despite what the critics say) this was the better film of the two.

Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFTKqX4Wyew

"I can't go out tonight I have my biggest med school exam ever tomorrow morning." Best friends Miller (Teller) and Casey (Astin) show up to take their friend Jeff Chang out for his 21st birthday. Jeff Chang fights them because of his big chance at med school and his father threatens them. None of this stops the friends and one beer turns into a night that none of them will remember, or forget. After the last few movies like this I have seen I was leery of seeing this. I will admit that this was funny and I laughed almost the whole way through. I think the best thing about this movie though is that it doesn't try to be something it's not. The movie is just a frat house comedy about kids getting drunk, no sub plot, no trying to make a statement, just drinking and fun. On the other hand though I thought the movie was funnier and better when it was called Harold & Kumar. Overall, if you like the Harold & Kumar type movies then you will like this one as well. I was surprised at how much I laughed. I give it a B.