MOVIE REVIEW: Fifth Form at the Urban Suburban Film Fest

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MOVIE REVIEW: Fifth Form at the Urban Suburban Film Fest

POSTED: Friday, June 19, 2009, 2:00 PM

Filed Under: Movies | Film Fest Movie Review

Like the old adage goes its all fun and games until someone gets hurt, this definitely holds true in Fifth Form. Set against the first Gulf War, An elite New England prep school Hudson Academy becomes the battle ground for the prank war of all prank wars. Think getting hit with paint balls after getting out of the shower, from someone in a Nixon mask. The new Jewish student Josh Schuster takes center stage in the battle. But the jokes and laughs all end when it turns into an all out racial battle, with Fifth Formers Harold and Ravi being dragged through the mud, culminating into the most stereotypical and racially offensive newspaper image you could imagine depicting a white, an Asian, and an Indian (just think Ku Klux Klan gear, Asian miner getup and a man in a turban).

No doubt the rambunctious guys make for an interesting movie, and some humorous boys-will-be-boys lines. Even with the bro humor and pranks Fifth Form falls a bit short. Not that the movie doesn't have what could and is a good storyline, but the plot feels undeveloped. The tone shifts from the teenage guys fooling around to racially tense situations. The real story is Josh's coming of age, as we see him deal with a long distance relationship with his kid-crush Amanda and people from various backgrounds. Still, without a well developed central storyline it feels typical.

Fifth Form screens Sat., June 20 at 12:25 p.m. as part of the Urban Suburban Film Festival.

Urban Suburban Film Festival, Thu., June 18 - Sat., June 20, $10-300, Crowne Plaza, 4100 Presidential Blvd., Bala Cynwyd, 215-477-0200, urbansuburbanfilmfestival.com.

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