The World's Best Prom (2006) (V)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Directors:

Chris Talbott
Ari Vena

Release Date:

4 April 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Romance

Tagline:

An American Rite of Passage Taken to the Extreme

Plot:

Once a year for the past 50 years, prom mania grips the entire population of Racine, Wisconsin. If the Academy Awards were moved to the heartland, this is what it would resemble.

Plot Keywords:

Prom | Racine | Wisconsin | Award | Parade

Cast

Barb Adrian	...	Herself
Ben Adrian	...	Himself
Max Adrian	...	Himself
Jacob Jensens	...	Himself
Kai Jensens	...	Himself
Andrea Powe	...	Herself
Dori Sorensen	...	Herself
Janet Sorensen	...	Herself
Jon Sorensen	...	Himself
Tonya Witherspoon	...	Herself

Runtime:

USA:67 min | USA:80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:Unrated (unrated version) | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Racine, Wisconsin, USA

Company:

OVO

Soundtrack:

Game on Lock

Fascinating

Reminiscent of 2002 Spellbound, "The Worlds Best Prom" is a fun and fascinating look at Midwest Prom culture. While Spellbound did an incredible job of showing us various kids from different cultures and backgrounds (from poor immigrants to rich kids with tutors), "The Worlds Best Prom" does one thing Spellbound never can: It makes me think about my own experience. While I never entered a spelling bee, I certainly do have memories of my own prom, sad and embarrassing as they may be. The documentary films students in Racine, Wisconsin, a working class town akin to Detroit or Houston: rich kids and ghetto kids all mixed in the same schools. The film focuses on three students in particular. Tonya is the shy, black girl from the ghetto neighborhood who wants to leave Racine and start a new life. Dory is the example of the white, rebellious Catholic school girl who rebels against her parents through drinking, sex, and drugs, and is simply the "popular" one. Ben is the unassuming high school quarterback who has a tough home life but still respects his mother and brother. The film does a solid job of giving us a history of the town and prom, which was started 50 years ago by the local Rotary club after some students died in a drunk driving accident.

The Racine prom is outrageous, insane, and still, at its core, a view into what can only be described as Midwest: all heart, a bit of style, and certainly a lot of fun.