Palo Alto (2013)
Based on James Franco’s short story collection of the same title, Palo Alto follows a bunch of privileged, bored high schoolers as they get into trouble because they have nothing else to do. Sometimes these movies can be painful to watch, since the characters are so unlikable and make such despicable choices. Sometimes these movies are too melodramatic, in order to prove a point. This one is extremely realistic, and while parts of it are painful, it’s also very educational. My mom didn’t make it all the way through, insisting that if that was how kids really acted nowadays, she didn’t want to know about it. I do know that bored kids do act that way, but for me, I found it almost relaxing to watch. I’m so relieved I’m not a teenager anymore!
If I had a daughter, I would force her to watch this movie before she entered high school. This is one of the greatest cautionary tales I’ve ever seen. In one scene, an uncommitted couple sleep together immediately afterwards, the boy gets dressed and leaves, saying unenthusiastically, “This was fun. Peace out.” The girl gets a kiss on the cheek when she asks if he’ll call her later, and she’s left humiliated, disrespected, and devalued. Now, as I always say, it takes two to tango—which is why I would force my daughter to watch this movie. If this movie wouldn’t convince her to stay away from boys, I don’t know what would.
The main plot revolves around Jack Kilmer and Nat Wolff, two bored friends who do drugs, go to parties, and get into trouble. Jack gets sentenced to community service, but he’s just not old or mature enough to really learn from it. Nat has intense emotional problems, and without severe counseling and a great mentor, he’ll do so much damage to those he has the misfortune to cross paths with. I think it’s pretty obvious that male audiences will enjoy Jack and Nat’s scenes the best, and the female viewers—and certainly those in my age bracket—will pick Emma Roberts’s and James Franco’s scenes as their favorites. This movie doesn’t glamorize student-teacher relationships, but instead shows how an unchaperoned girl can get into trouble. Emma comes across as mature for her age, and since Franco is relatively young and extremely cute, he can tell she’s the type to seek someone outside her circle and keep her activities a secret.
If there’s one takeaway from this movie, it’s that unchaperoned bored kids will get into trouble. If you still believe in the goodness of human nature, you must not have ever gone to high school.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to drug use, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it until they were a little older.
More James Franco movies here!
If I had a daughter, I would force her to watch this movie before she entered high school. This is one of the greatest cautionary tales I’ve ever seen. In one scene, an uncommitted couple sleep together immediately afterwards, the boy gets dressed and leaves, saying unenthusiastically, “This was fun. Peace out.” The girl gets a kiss on the cheek when she asks if he’ll call her later, and she’s left humiliated, disrespected, and devalued. Now, as I always say, it takes two to tango—which is why I would force my daughter to watch this movie. If this movie wouldn’t convince her to stay away from boys, I don’t know what would.
The main plot revolves around Jack Kilmer and Nat Wolff, two bored friends who do drugs, go to parties, and get into trouble. Jack gets sentenced to community service, but he’s just not old or mature enough to really learn from it. Nat has intense emotional problems, and without severe counseling and a great mentor, he’ll do so much damage to those he has the misfortune to cross paths with. I think it’s pretty obvious that male audiences will enjoy Jack and Nat’s scenes the best, and the female viewers—and certainly those in my age bracket—will pick Emma Roberts’s and James Franco’s scenes as their favorites. This movie doesn’t glamorize student-teacher relationships, but instead shows how an unchaperoned girl can get into trouble. Emma comes across as mature for her age, and since Franco is relatively young and extremely cute, he can tell she’s the type to seek someone outside her circle and keep her activities a secret.
If there’s one takeaway from this movie, it’s that unchaperoned bored kids will get into trouble. If you still believe in the goodness of human nature, you must not have ever gone to high school.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to drug use, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it until they were a little older.
More James Franco movies here!