'Incoming' review: Raunchy comedy blows chunks

Courtesy of Netflix

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Attempting to revive the hard-R rated raunchy comedies of the early aughts, but with a modern, 2024 lens “Incoming,” from writing/directing duo Dave and John Chernin, solidifies that trying to capture the lightning-in-a-bottle success of “Superbad” is easier said than done. It also reaffirms the diminishing theatrical viability of these films (the last success being “Good Boys” in 2019) as “Incoming” is landing on Netflix where it will get swallowed by the algorithm and not so much as make a dent in the cultural zeitgeist unlike it’s 2007 inspiration that became a cultural and critical smash. 

I suppose the biggest differentiator between “Incoming” and “Superbad,” aside from, you know, the overall quality, is the talent. There’s no Micheal Cera, Jonah Hill, or Christoper Mintz-Plasse to sooth over the rough patches of a movie that is just an amalgamation of countless R-rated comedies before it. Everything from scatlogical humor, nudity to backseat defecation are unapologetically displayed with a trio of actors who, unfortunately, don’t have the camaraderie to sell the more outlandish material. 

“The Black Phone” stand-out Mason Thames plays Benj Nielsen, an incoming freshman who, alongside his pals Eddie (Ramon Reed), Connor (Raphael Alejandro), and Koosh (Bardia Seiri) are gearing up for their first high school rager. They have big ambitions of scoring with chicks, drinking heavy booze, and perhaps ingesting some drugs. They aren’t characters so much as they are a personification of every young-pubescent boy who dreams of hooking up with the hot upperclassmen who are way out of their league. But that doesn’t stop them from trying, including Benj’s attempts at swooning his harmless crush, Bailey (Isabella Ferreira), a sophomore who happens to be his sisters best friend; or Koosh, who cleverly lures a girl into his in-home spa and then locks the door and throws away the key. Hormones do strange things to the body. 

Considering this is a plot everyone has seen at least once or twice in their lifetime, the burden on “Incoming” is then creating memorable set pieces or funny one-liners. Except, the only one of merit involves a drunken woman emptying her bowels in the backseat of a self-driving Tesla and even that is mild at best. The young actors simply don’t have the props nor the chemistry to make you root for their conquest. I often thought back to Jason Biggs' goofy, charming demeanor in “American Pie,” and how you couldn't help and cheer for his efforts. 

Here, the Chernin brothers play the greatest hits where, as a passive watch or as background noise for a “Netflix & Chill” session, is serviceable, but slight. Worse, it doesn’t help advance the case for evolving the R-rated comedy and trying to make them more than just streaming content. Several years ago, while the iron was still hot, a movie like “Incoming,” with better resources, would have fared better with stronger actors, and a script that could tastefully balance the sex comedy elements with stronger themes of friendship and bromance. Today’s teenage audiences should do themselves a favor and check out the movies I’ve mentioned before delving into this disposable one. 

Grade: D 

INCOMING is now streaming on Netflix