SXSW Film Reviews

The Myth of the American Sleepover

This last-night-of-summer ode evades the slippery slope of high school flick cheesedom. Maggie (Sloma), Rob (Morton), Claudia (Bauer), and Scott (Jacobsen) embark on separate yet proximate quests, all driven by the typical teen triumvirate of love, lust, and social standing. The film's four narrative climaxes, however, do not rely on ... well, climaxes. Not to imply that the film is neutered: Hell, no. It's sweet and sticky and frisky and true to the awkwardness of adolescence, but with a healthy dose of tenderness. Long, luxurious takes of exuberant bike riding, giddy dancing, and an awesome montage of running through hallways (plus an interesting lack of cell phones and adults) evoke less Hughes and more Truffaut, and the Dazed and Confused-y use of slo-mo – as kids take on the night to suckle the last bit of honey before the school year begins – serves to embolden this timeless tome.