By Megan Ruge Asst. living and arts editor
This week’s review comes to you hot off the press. I chose a fresh Netflix release for you all that is different than anything I have ever shared before.
This film comes to us from our current culture wave. In the media-driven hookup culture of today, we are all living on edge, waiting for the next adventure.
A large portion of the young adult lifestyle centers around taking the opportunities that are right in front of you and living them to their fullest—being part of something bigger than yourself. That’s essentially what this film is all about.
“XOXO” is a film about several young adults who find themselves at a music festival where they encounter terrifying and exciting troubles that connect them in very subtle ways. Each person becomes aware of the way things happen and how they never end exactly how they are expected to.
“XOXO” is a unique movie that allows the viewer to see the way that people of our generation react in different situations.
Some of these situations include accidental drugging, trying to find someone you have never met before and trying to navigate your way around something brand new.
The movie shows how easy it is for someone to get caught up in what they are used to and how often people can get frustrated with something simple.
This film uses a similar technique as “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World,” a movie which uses multimedia to present different ideas. Instead of a comic and video game type atmosphere, “XOXO” surrounds itself with social media and other technology-related graphics.
For example, throughout the film, small text message bubbles pop up and accompany the scene.
Viewers also see a countdown clock that is crucial to the plot of the movie. These graphics are important and further the plot, so they should not be ignored.
“XOXO” contains many themes related to new beginnings and the way events end. Each of the main characters experiences this in one way or another.
In the film, a young couple come to the festival as a last hurrah for the summer. Struggling to mend the unspoken trouble between them, they face a set of trials that lead them to reflect on what the festival really meant for them.
Another character, a young girl looking for true love, realizes that things don’t always happen exactly the way she pictures them in her mind.
A young man with the chance of a lifetime finds himself accidentally slamming the door on one opportunity only to find another opportunity present itself, while his friend realizes what kind of role he plays in the grand scheme of things.
Many other characters experience this new beginning or ending theme as well.
A sneaky artist is finally burned for the error of his ways, a has-been is able to forgive the past and move into the future and a man with a lot of power is helped to understand why he started what he did in the first place, getting back to his roots in the best way.
The film represents the best parts of being able to come together with people you don’t know in today’s modern culture and how it can change you.
It shows the power that our technology has on our lives and how much technology has changed from even 15 to 20 years earlier.
The film, although containing an interesting storyline, lacks a generally life-changing message. The acting was subpar and there was little variety.
If you enjoy teen and young adult films that are all about the biggest events of our generation, then this film is for you.
“XOXO” has a captivating storyline and is comedic. I give this film 3 out of 5 stars.
