The Myth of the American Sleepover [HD]

Tepid and honest and dull and involving
Myth of the American Sleepover is a teen-themed but adult interest directo to video film about a group of suburban Detroit kids on the last day of summer vacation, before they either go off to high school or college. The events in this film take place in people's yards, at a lake, in their homes and at the University of Michigan.

There isn't a lot going on in this movie other than the stuff kids do in the summer. They attend parties, try to impress each other, try to find that romantic interest or generate same from a member of the opposite sex (no obviously gay interest that I saw) and have varying levels of angst, disappointment, excitement and fun trying to figure out themselves and other kids/young adults. The sleepover theme comes from a group of girls that sleep over at one of the girl's parents' house, where the movie's only real conflict arises.

But this is not a film about particularly conflicted people; it is a slice of life film without message or...

OK
This movie does a decent job of capturing that time between being a 'tween and when you can drive. Most of these kids must be 14-15. So, in a year, they'll be driving and humping like rabbits. But they're still at that awkward stage of having these newfound raging hormones, but not knowing what to do with them. Yes, there's a lot of wandering around and banal conversation... because that's what kids this age are all about. There are some tender moments, but overall nowhere near as enjoyable as Dazed And Confused or some classic teen film like that, nor is it a movie like Kids.

Know what you're getting
This film will play better to former teens than current ones. The cast is populated with inexperienced actors (some of whom are more effective than others), and the filmmakers are more interested in showing a small slice of summer than taking you on a more traditional narrative journey.

Before watching, put yourself in the mindset of American Graffiti or Dazed & Confused: this is an ensemble story where nothing "big" happens, and many of the characters end up in the same place - literally and figuratively - where they started.

If you want plot twists and prom scenes and epiphanies, look elsewhere.

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