Directed By: Kim O. Nguyen

Written By: D.J. Mausner

Cinematography: Bradford Lipson

Editor: Daniel Reitzenstein 

Cast: Julia Lester, Antonia Gentry, Kenny Ridwan, Jordan Buhat, JT Neal, Zion Moreno, Terry Hu, John Michael Higgins, Chelsea Handler, Arianna Rivas, Emery Kelly 

“Prom Dates” follows best friends Jess and Hannah, who made a pact at 13 to have the perfect senior prom. Despite the impending changes that college will bring over the next four years, the two are committed to honoring their prom pact. But with only 24 hours left before the big event, everything falls apart when they break up with each of their dates. Jess and Hannah are left with one night to find new dates and live out their middle-school fantasies.

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Automatically other films will come to mind while you watch this film most likely BOOKSMART. as it has a kind of similar structure of seemingly two days and one wild night in between with two best friends seemingly on a mission that they are united in, but slowly reveal their insecurities and problems they separate goes in their own direction.

Booksmart is probably a better well-made version of the story. This film is the more over-the-top gross wacky, comedic brand that is actually pretty fun and funny. This might be considered a low-rent version, but it is still enjoyable. 

It comes across as more sexual also while having an open-minded pro-LGBTQ plus characters throughout. With a wild night of partying, booze, drugs, and sex in between yet, the film never becomes too exploitive and still manages to be over the edge and funny.

The two leads are great Antonia Gentry is the more conventional pretty girl who for some odd reason always comes across as desperate, even though she should be in control and Julia Lester as her best friend, the kind of tomboy lesbian who gets all the best physical comedy scenes also more of the gross humor, but becomes the most identifiable character throughout.

Throughout the film, they run into challenges, but failures that do help define the night and them, and truly show the resilience of the characters.

Even though the ending is a little unexpected and offers a few little twists that one didn’t see coming, but still makes the film worthwhile and feels a little more realistic and its depiction. 

A subplot that involves one of the character’s brother and a secret hook-up or romance is needed to help flesh out his character, but also just seems tacked on and unnecessary. 

I can definitely give the film points for having a diverse cast. even having comedian Chelsea Handler in an unnecessary cameo role that helps add star power to the film, but at least gives parental representative throughout other than the principal played by John Michael Higgins.

The main characters’ parents are largely absent throughout the film, which also seemingly gives them room to really have no boundaries as there is no nagging looking for them or wondering where they are, which is one of the only parts of the film that might feel a little bit unrealistic parts of the film that it tries to present.

This is definitely a modern film, but it kind of feels like a throwback, it doesn’t offend, but it also seems like the film isn’t afraid to for a scene to work.

It’s definitely worth checking out as you will definitely have a laugh with this coming-of-age film, but it’s not necessarily things you haven’t seen before.

Grade: B-