Incoming [2024]

January 10, 2025

What the fuck happened to raunchy teen comedies? It seems that in this new age, they’ve almost completely disappeared. This is one of my favorite genres, as I grew up watching American Pie, EuroTrip, Not Another Teen Movie, and all the other classics. Back then, we used to get at least six or seven movies like that per year. Nowadays, it’s more like one – or none. So, I want you to appreciate even more what Dave and John Chernin, the writers and directors of this movie, have accomplished. Incoming is a hilariously raunchy teen comedy in the vein of Superbad, updated to today’s modern standards.

Impeccably written, fast-paced, and unafraid to push boundaries, this is easily the best comedy of 2024. Once again, we follow a tight-knit group of awkward outcasts as they prepare for the wildest night of their young lives. And you know what that means: drugs, sex, and alcohol! Yes, this is that type of movie, a hard-R comedy, though notably without nudity. Right away, I have to tell you it passes the Subversive Rabbit legendary comedy test. If you’re not familiar with it, the test posits that, to be a truly legendary raunchy comedy, a movie must include at least one shitting scene. And oh boy, does Incoming deliver.

And that’s all I’m going to say about that. What can I say? I like my toilet humor literal and raw. This is why I’ll tell you right away that Incoming is a perfect ten for me. Sure, the plot is formulaic, following in the footsteps of the aforementioned classics. However, since there are so few of these movies around, I actually found it refreshing. This might not be the case for everyone, as some might prefer something a bit more original. Luckily, the fast pacing, upbeat atmosphere, and excellent jokes will make you forget about that—or at least I hope so. The production values are top-notch, and the camera work is solid as well.

Incoming looks and feels like a AAA comedy. In that sense, I’d compare it to last year’s hit, No Hard Feelings, starring Jennifer Lawrence. Circling back to the plot, it’s strikingly similar to Good Boys, another raunchy teen comedy from 2019. However, there are several key differences, such as the fact that our crew looks and acts a bit older than The Bean Bag Boys, and that was a big one for me. That said, I’m afraid the Chernins borrowed heavily from Good Boys, incorporating many of its elements into their own film. Yet, in a genre so overpopulated with stereotypes, this critique might be too harsh.

Ultimately, what really matters is whether you have fun watching something. And I had a lot of fun watching Incoming. The cast did a terrific job, with our lead trio of Mason Thames, Ramon Reed, and Raphael Alejandro delivering pitch-perfect performances. Isabella Ferreira and Bardia Seiri were equally impressive. On the adult side, Bobby Cannavale and Kaitlin Olson shine, each doing what they do best. I especially enjoyed Bobby’s character, Mr. Studebaker, a middle-aged teacher trying to come to terms with his life while recapturing his youth. As a middle-aged guy myself, all I can say is: I feel you, Studes.

Finally, I have one more thing to say about post-2020 raunchy teen comedies: they’re hard to find. Almost all of them get IMDb ratings below 6, making it difficult to tell which ones are actually worth watching. Incoming currently has a 5.8 rating, The Binge a 5.3, and The Package a 5.6. I suppose Good Boys, standing tall with a 6.7 IMDb rating, is the exception that proves the rule. To be completely objective, those last two movies probably deserve a 6.1 or 6.3 instead. With a running time of just 80 minutes, Incoming is a Netflix raunchy teen comedy you simply must check out.