Predictable prom flick with a twist

Since American Pie’s release in 1999, there has been no shortage of American films based around prom nights and the various antics which go with them.

But director Kay Cannon (best known for her role as writer and co-executive producer of hit comedy television series New Girl) explores what it is like for the other people involved in a prom – the parents.

Leslie Mann, Ike Barinholtz and WWE wrestler John Cena star as Lisa Decker, Hunter and Mitchell, three parents of teenage daughters who are heading to prom with their respective dates.

After the three parents “accidentally” discover a pact between their daughters Julie, Kayla and Sam, to lose their virginity on the night, the overbearing parents set out to stop the girls.

From here the crazed parents crash a car, break into a house and even get involved in some unconventional drinking games, all just to make sure their daughters are not making a mistake.

It is interesting to see how the parents all view their kids going to prom and the anxieties they have over them growing up.

Lisa tries to work through her fears of Julie heading off to college and what it would be like to be a single mother living without her child.

Mitchell tries to understand what it is like to have a daughter who has grown out of that “tom boy” phase of her life and is becoming a woman.

While Hunter works hard to try to show his daughter Sam that he can be a good father, despite years of neglect and poor decision-making.

Then there is the dynamic between the three parents.

Despite all knowing each other for more than a decade, the trio does not seem to get along too well at the start.

Mitchell is angry at Lisa for shutting him out, despite his repeated efforts to try to be friends with her.

While Hunter is ostracised by the pair for his infidelity and teenage-like ways.

But the journey they go on somehow brings them together and the characters do have a dynamic which works.

The comedy in the film, although not in the ‘classic’ film league, does have some witty one-liners that make you laugh out loud.

The story arc is predictable and the film ends the way the viewer expects it to.

The acting is not too bad either, with Cena doing well in a comedy role as he tries to replicate arguably Hollywood’s biggest star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who went from WWE champion to the world’s highest paid actor.

Blockers is not a bad film, but it is certainly not one you will wait to see again when it is released for home theatres.