Movielogr

Rating: 4.5 stars

All movies seen on 07/30/2011

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The Myth of the American Sleepover (2011)

Directed by David Robert Mitchell

Drama

Most recently watched by schofizzy, zombiefreak, sensoria, sleestakk, noahphex, jenerator

Overview

Four young people navigate the suburban wonderland of metro-Detroit looking for love and adventure on the last weekend of summer.

Rated NR | Length 96 minutes

Actors

Claire Sloma | Marlon Morton | Amanda Bauer | Brett Jacobsen | Nikita Ramsey | Jade Ramsey | Amy Seimetz | Megan Boone | Annette DeNoyer | Wyatt McCallum | Mary Wardell | Douglas Diedrich | Mai Hlee Xiong | Dane Jones | Shayla Curran | Christopher Simon | Madi Ortiz | Stephen M. Francis III | Drew Machak | Kathleen McEneaney | Olivia Coté | Danny Agar | Amelia Anderson | Hannah Nelson | Gino Raona | Lauren Romanowski | Marnie Lewbel | Laura Ortiz | Kimberly Lilly | Claire R. Call | Shelley Fager-Bajorek | Walter McCarthy | Peter Flannery II | Josh Hartkorn | Diane LaRue | Tiffany Bowery | Paris Bowery | Robert Harmon | Catherine Linebarger | Cat Navarro | Jimmy Shin | Narisa Suzuki | Louis Yuen | Steven Sutherland | Hali Lula Hudson | Melanie Leanne Miller | Michaela Myers | Jean Louise O'Sullivan

Viewing History (seen 1 time)

Viewing Notes

Very little that can be considered “true” regarding teenagers ever comes out of Hollywood. We get movies like AMERICAN PIE or KIDS that paint kids as sex-driven idiots. The truth is, most of us weren’t the insanely horny or deathly tortured teens that plague most modern Teen-centric films. We were clumsy, insecure, awkward, full of new feelings and searching for acceptance.

David Robert Mitchell’s THE MYTH OF THE AMERICAN SLEEPOVER is the most realistic and honest look at what it’s like to be a teenager that I’ve ever seen. Set in the outskirts of Detroit, Michigan the film follows a handful of teenagers on their last night of the summer. Most of these kids are about to start their first day of high school as Freshmen, so they celebrate their last night of freedom with “sleepovers.” The girls are having a sleepover, while the guys insist they are just “hanging out.” There is also a small subplot involving a former Senior searching out a possible missed opportunity from the school year.

At it’s core, THE MYTH OF THE AMERICAN SLEEPOVER is a small glimpse into the teenage emotional experience. The writer/director bravely leaves out all social technology such as cell phones and computers and we’re left with the core of the teenage social experience.

Filled with young actors, most of them first time actors, THE MYTH OF THE AMERICAN SLEEPOVER features 2 of my favorite performances of the year. Claire Sloma and Amanda Bauer give the films most centered and strongest performances. Claire plays Maggie, a girl who feels her summer has gone by without any attention from boys and is determined to fine love on this last night of summer. Amanda is Claire, new to town she has spent the summer dating a soon-to-be senior, she’s invited to the sleepover in hopes to meet new friends. Both performances are charming, funny and poignant bringing a sense of innocence and naivety to their roles. More so than most the other young actors.

Everyone else is serviceable, but most suffer from inexperience. However, the script is so honest and well written it’s easy to overlook these aspects. THE MYTH OF THE AMERICAN SLEEPOVER is a wonderful little film. Charming, poignant and funny it brings an honesty rarely seen on the screen.

See it in LA at the Nuart Theater this week and On Demand everywhere else. Please seek this film out, it’s well worth it.

http://americansleepover.com/

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