Hooking Up (2008)

Director:

Vincent Scordia

Writers:

Jeff Siegel (screenplay)
Jeff Siegel (story) ...

Release Date:

2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A tale of suburban reality.

Plot:

After "hooking up" with a series of guys at a house party, April is the talk of her high school. Her best friend Michelle...

Cast

Corey Feldman	...	Ryan
Brian O'Halloran	...	Dr. Jordan
Bronson Pinchot	...	Mr. Kimbal
Parker Croft	...	John
Jim deProphetis	...	Colin
Allyson Muñoz	...	April
Ted Sangalis	...	Tyler
Leah Viens-Gordon	...	Michelle
Alison Whitney	...	Caroline
Jessica Howell	...	Jess
Burt Brooks	...	Tim
Josh Macuga	...	Dave
Amy Deatrich	...	Teacher
Natasha Giliberti	...	Laura
Meghan Whitman	...	Amanda

Also Known As:

Cluster (USA) (working title)
Clusterfuck (USA) (uncensored intended title)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Filming Locations:

Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Bipolar Films

Movie Connections:

References Johnny Mnemonic (1995)

Soundtrack:

Canabizniz (Weed Man)

Some Really Funny Moments, Definitely Worth A Look

Just saw a screening of this movie and I found it enjoyable over all.

The aptly titled Hooking Up is a humorous look at a lot of teenage social trends that have started to get a little attention lately – casual oral sex which is viewed as a way to preserve virginity, friends with benefits, the lengths girls will go to get popular, unhealthy, obsessive relationships, etc. It then also goes on to highlight a series of sexual "urban legends" (or perhaps "suburban legends" given the setting) which are found on the internet – a gloryhole, rainbow parties, and (the one you'll be talking with your friends about) something called "seagulling" – creating an interesting mix of the realistic and the absurd.

The stars are mostly young unknowns who all managed to do well. Parker Croft (who plays John Johnson) definitely stood out to me, delivering an energetic, poised, and hysterical performance, and definitely got the most laughs. Keep your eyes open for this guy, he's going places.

Of the veteran actors, Bronson Pinchot's cameo role of Mr. Kimbal, a chemistry teacher who is constantly dodging one student's ravenous attempts to sleep with him, was hysterical. Brian O'Halloran, best known as Dante in the Clerks movies, held his own as the naïve high school principal. And Corey Feldman was cast well as the consummate asshole Ryan, an older guy that preys on insecure high school girls.

If I had complaints they would be that it was a little too sprawling and not focused on any particular character long enough. It revolves around 7 characters sort of drifts in between story lines, but they did a decent job of tying everything together. I thought the ending of the Ryan/Caroline story could have been a little stronger as well.

It doesn't have the look of a polished Hollywood movie, but I think it works well for what it is. Especially once I heard about how it was made – by a few friends who pooled all their money together after graduating from college. I definitely respect the "do it yourself" approach they took.

There were some really hilarious moments throughout this dialogue heavy film (a lot of which reminded me of early Kevin Smith lines). I really enjoyed the whole "seagulling" storyline, and thought it was a fresh, independent take on a lot of these cliché teen sex movies. I don't think it's winning any awards, but it's entertaining, good for some laughs, and will definitely spur some interesting conversations amongst friends. Definitely worth a rent.