Netflix’s original 2018 film, The Package, is a raunchy teen comedy directed by Jake Szymanski. Stiller and the Workaholics team produced it. The movie features a bold premise, a cast of up-and-coming actors, and a gross-out coming-of-age romp with a surprisingly touching narrative of friendship and loyalty.
Synopsis
The story follows Sean, Jeremy, Donnie, Becky, and Sarah, five high school seniors who embark on a spring break camping escapade in the woods. Sean just returned from a trip to Germany, and he is doing his best to reconnect with the rest of the gang. On top of that, he has a crush on Becky, Jeremy’s sister. Donnie and Sarah are a couple with unresolved issues, which makes things get awkward in the trip.
Things go sideways when Jeremy, while drunk, brutally injures himself during a knife-fueled late-night bathroom break. The madness gets ramped up with each twist after Jeremy accidentally severs his own penis. While the group manages to call for help, Jeremy being airlifted for surgery is just the beginning of the frantic comedy filled with desperation and bodily humor that follows.
The group does make a pivotal blunder: the paramedics are sent the incorrect cooler. Instead of a severed body part, a cooler with beer ends up in the hands of the medical personnel. Understanding the mistake, the other four friends scramble to get the dismembered penis to the hospital on time, or Jeremy will lose any chance of reattachment.
Johns, Ingrid and other teens push their limits when it comes to amusing and ridiculous situations as an immense amount of unconventional pranks ensue. From racing locals who have gone wild to fending off untamed animals, and everything in between, the film transforms into a comical chaotic journey filled with absurdity. Teenagers not only battle to preserve Jeremy’s genitalia, but also deal with internal struggles, heal broken bonds, and unite through hardship.
Even though The Package sounds like The Hangover franchise by being filled with stupid riddles and jokes, the core of the story shares the importance of heartfelt friendship and the extent people would reach for their loved ones.
Cast & Crew
Director: Jake Szymanski
Writers: Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider
Producers: Ben Stiller, Nicholas Weinstock, Blake Anderson, Adam DeVine, Anders Holm, Kyle Newacheck, Ross M. Dinerstein
Main Cast
Daniel Doheny as Sean Floyd – Becky’s love interest, the socially awkward hero who desperately tries to prove his worth to his friends.
Geraldine Viswanathan as Becky Abelar – Jeremy’s strong-willed sister who slowly begins to bond with Sean and tries to keep everyone sane during the madness.
Eduardo Franco as Jeremy Abelar – The unluckiest person in the world whose freak accident and explosion of bodily carnage is the ‘thing’ that gets the story going.
Sadie Calvano as Sarah – Ex girlfriend of Donnie’s. She’s smart and self-sufficient, yet has to deal with the group’s chaotic adventure.
Luke Spencer Roberts as Donnie – One of the characters Joe refers to as “friends” has a friend who is a complete wack job, bringing humor and chaos.
Together this young cast is able to carry the film with their honest performance blended with great comic timing. As for Geraldine, she is simply wonderful in her role as Becky, balancing all that outrageous humor with some genuine warmth.
IMDb Ratings and Reception
As The Package’s IMDb rating is close to 5.5/10, the film has received a mixed reception. The review of the movie indicates that both critics and fans are divided over how it was executed. A section of the audience enjoys the way the comedic tone is unapologetic, the rapid pacing, and the overall chemistry of the cast. The other section feels the premise is too crude, while some feel the jokes are not very effective.
Like many boundary-pushing comedies, the film’s humor is not for everyone. It is not on the same level as The American Pie and Super Bad, but it does come from the same sub-genre. The Package gets more extreme, but there is skill in its dedication to absurdity. The sheer willingness to embrace its outrageous premise earns it credibility with fans of the genre.
The film is rather respectful when it comes to jokes. Despite the absurdity, it does not shy away from themes like male vulnerability, the forced nature of young love, and true friendship in the face of relentless stress. Though these themes are not elaborated deeply, their presence still adds a little depth to what is otherwise a mindless comedy.
Conclusion
The Package is not your everyday film. It certainly won’t win any awards, but I would argue that headlong into absurdity is noteworthy in its own right. If you want a film that is repulsive and overly exaggerated yet manages to capture the heart, then The Package fits the bill. You will definitely find all the ingredients of a bizarre experience in this movie; and if you’re someone who enjoys outrageous comedies, then you won’t be disappointed. Outrageous comedies tend to be too outrageous for the audience to actually enjoy, but The Package succeeds on fully embracing the ridiculous.
A movie that revolves primarily around a dismembered body part may seem odd and absurd, and—teenage horror as it may, it is. But The Package moves beyond that and tackles the themes of friendship and growing up. The journey is humorous, deeply unexpected, and most importantly, deeply tender. The greatest thing about The Package is that while it has horrifying aspects, it is mouth agape laughter inducing and walks the fine line of hilarity and horror.
No one can argue that The Package holds the title of the boldest original title Netflix has to offer, whether you agree with the boldness of the statement or not is completely up to you. Claiming The Package a guilty pleasure for some, or outright ludicrous for some is completely subjective. Just remember to approach the film with an open mind, and prepare yourself for an unforgettable experience.
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