Blockers: SXSW Movie Review

“Blockers” is the latest comedy from producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, and stars John Cena, Leslie Mann and Ike Barinholtz as three parents who set out to “block” their daughters from having sex on prom night. This tired premise of “the quest to lose one’s virginity" has been explored countless times before, from the John Hughes films of the 80s to the more recent American Pie franchise.

That being said, the most surprising thing about the film is the amount of heart it is. Director Kay Cannon (known for writing the Pitch Perfect films) balances the tightrope between raunchy gross-out gags and heart and manages to stick the landing, albeit a little roughly. Arguably, the best part about the film is the cast, with the standouts being John Cena and his daughter (played by newcomer Geraldine Viswanathan, who effortlessly steals every moment she’s on-screen). It’s not consistently funny as one would expect from the Rogen-Goldberg brand, but there’s enough chuckle-worthy moments and genuine sweetness to warrant a rental. 

Jordan Figueredo

Cigar City Magazine Staff Writer and Movie Critic
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