Synopis: One Camping Trip, One Catastrophe
The R-rated teenage comedy is “The Package” where a group of friends decide to go on a camping trip over spring break as Jeremy gets himself into an unfortunate incident where he cuts off his penis during an attempt at carving it with a knife. Every high school student loves going on camping trips but it turns in to an absolute slaphappy frenzy when one of them – Jeremy (Eduardo Franco) – decides to cut off his manhood with a knife.
The rest of the film centers around an illogical yet heavily comical quest to restore the severed piece of Jeremy back to his body before time runs out. His friends Donnie (Luke Spencer Roberts), Sean (Daniel Doheny), Sarah (Sadie Calvano), and Becky (Geraldine Viswanathan) are faced with a host of challenges including coming face to face with wild animals, their own teenage desires, uncontrollable boat accidents, and sheer bad luck.
The movie does lack sophistication in the plot details, but does strike out in an attempt at teenager comedy while trying to sprinkle in the message of the difficulty in forming friendships while focusing on chronic miscommunication and romantic tension.
🎭 Performances and Characters
The relatively new ensemble cast balances crude humor with likability really well. An exemplification of this is seen when Daniel Doheny plays Sean as an awkward every-teen whose puke avoidance techniques are highly challenged by his infatuation with Becky. Geraldine Viswanathan, the standout of the cast, expertly uses comic timing and strong presence to subdue chaotic energy while portraying Becky.
Mr. Franco is a scene stealer and does so without any regret as the essayed Jeremy. The tough character oscillates between painfully funny witticisms and utterly excruciating cries for aid. Sadie Calvano and Luke Spencer Roberts join the crew and bring their own share of bickering quirks that compliment the group and make the dynamic feel real and natural.
The stereotypical teens in the film do fit the usual teen comedy cliches. Although, we are likely to appreciate the actors for their effortless charm that makes the characters feel new even while the humor toes the line of American pie’s absurdity.
🎞️ Direction & Style
This claim is substantiated by the work of the film’s director, Jake Szymanski who is known for other works such as Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates and Funny or Die sketches, as he is focused on bringing a unique touch to the film by adding ungodly energy. The film is shot in a very fast paced, loose manner and further extends to suggestive physical comedy and elaborate absurdity. While it pays close attention to the emotions of the characters, aiding it in rising above mindless slap stick comedy.
The film visually captures the outdoor adventure genre—bizarre medical missions set in bewildering, beautiful landscapes, featuring dense forests, rocky rivers, and quiet highways. Its pacing is sharp, comedic timing is finely crafted, and the film is well aware of when it must escalate to its most shocking moments.
💡 Themes and Subtext
Alongside relentless and over the top profane jokes, The Package, unexpectedly, touches on genuine themes like:
Teen friendship and devotion: Their friend’s injury drives the group towards going on this ridiculous mission. Such emotional grounding makes the film surprisingly heartfelt.
Awkwardness of growing up: Characters face early relationships, miscommunication, and over eagerness to act older than they actually are. This sort of relatability in the chaos makes it believable.
Silliness as comedy and catharsis: the film does not shy away from crude humor by delightfully showcasing tackiness, all the while remaining self-aware. There’s no attempt at subtlety and they deliver on the shouts of laughter.
📝 Critical Reception
Critics were split, but mostly offered positive reception for a film of this genre.
The film’s absurd premise, willingness to go full throttle with energy and its execution were widely praised from a genre perspective.
Geraldine Viswanathan’s role has been considered one of the humor highlights in the film, and in many ways a harbinger of her promising future.
Viswanathan’s critics pointed out that the humor was often too one-note, and that at times, the picture resembled an overly long sketch.
Other than that, ‘The Package’ is the best Netflix original film in the teen comedy genre, which is an entirely unflattering comparison to make.
🎯 The Package Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
The answer is yes, but only if you appreciate absurd, R-rated comedies with teenage characters that unexpected depth. It offers the viewer a blend of both unexpected profundity and crude humor, unapologetically embracing its identity without remorse.
Watch it if:
✔ You enjoy Superbad and American Pie Remake.
✔ It is a crude comedy featuring outrageous risks.
✔ You undeniably want to laugh at the naive yet silly actions of the characters.
Skip it if:
❌ Focused on coarse humor related to the body.
❌ Emotionally teenage complex stories interests you.
❌ Focuses on a severed penis.
🔚 Bottom Line
The eighteen sequel is an ridiculously graceful film available on Netflix featuring a ‘so bad it’s good’ premise. The film pays homage towards teenage friendships, showcasing how friends try to thinking on their feet when panicking. While not highbrow cinema, during its absurdly hilarious and vibe filled 90 minutes, the film more than delivers.