********POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD********
Even though I don't think this movie deserved as bad a rap as it received, the people who rented it were better off than those who spent the money to see it in theaters. I had an unusual urge to see this movie, yet at the same time was quite hesitant to do so. Reason why? I've never watched an episode of "The Real World" or "Road Rules" or any of those types of shows in my life, because they simply don't hold my interest. Though I'm more inclined towards movies that are realistic, I'm not a fan of the concept of the reality show. I believe art should be a depiction of reality, and not an exact imitation. So when I heard about the first "reality movie," I wasn't too impressed. However, there's a reason why sex sells, and I can't deny that the poster art for this movie, which displays a scantily clad woman splashing in the water, didn't lure me in. I knew since the movie's setting is spring break, there would be some nice footage of wet T-shirt contests. And that was no false advertising. There is some great wet T-shirt footage and shots of bare-breasted hotties.
It's true that the characters are real and the situations are real, but even documentaries are rarely totally real. There's always some sort of manipulation involved. Plus, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that people never act the same when a camera is rolling. The movie "Ed TV" does a great job at elaborating on that concept, but you can easily figure that out simply by watching your family's home videos. And if the people in front of the camera know that whatever they do will be seen on TV or on the big screen, they'll definitely behave differently. That is not to say that people in this movie are complete phonies. I'm simply saying that what you see in this movie isn't going to be a lot more real than what you'd see in a work of fiction. That's why I still regard many reality shows as "so-called reality shows." Of course, if there were hidden cameras rolling, that would be a different story, but that's violating privacy laws. Not to mention the characters in "The Real World" and "The Real Cancun" don't look like everyday people. When do they ever show people with facial blemishes or weight problems? This goes back to the media purposely expressing to its audience that THIS is how people are SUPPOSED to look like. But that's drifting into a whole 'nother issue.
I was interested in these characters for the most part, though I didn't feel an extremely close connection to any of them. But some of the characters were two-dimensional and I had a hard time believing they weren't putting on performances. I have to admit that I was rooting for Alan throughout the movie. How could I not root for someone who most people would consider a loser, and suddenly becoming a major stud? At the same time, I felt like the arc of his character was like that of a character in a fictional movie. He starts out a "loser" with glasses. I don't know why glasses always have to be associated with unattractiveness. Plus, he miraculously loses the glasses somewhere into the film (plot hole, plot hole). What happened? Did he get contact lenses or was he like Mr. Magoo throughout the rest of the vacation? He starts out with no confidence, he gets forced to drink by his fellow housemates and suddenly he becomes a totally different person with much more confidence. As I said, I couldn't help but root for him, but I find it hard to believe that he actually won that contest for the guy with the hottest body. Out of all the guys, he had the least muscle and he goes up on stage doing the most dorky dance you can think of. Yet he wins. Seems like something straight out of a movie, not reality.
The movie is by no means deep, but it does teach a few things about letting loose and having fun, and not caring what people think of you, especially when you're in Cancun and everyone there is never going to see you again. Sure, the characters drink and have promiscuous sex. Is there anything wrong with that? That's what people in their early 20's are supposed to do. I love how middle-aged people look at this movie and think of it as a wake-up call for how young people make such wastes of their lives. None of the characters are on drugs. They're not doing anything "illegal." What are you supposed to do during spring break in Cancun? Lie on the beach and read a book? The movie even taught me a few things about loosening up.
Now, onto what didn't work for me. Like episodes of "The Real World," the movie primarily deals with relationships between these young people. I'm sorry, but I don't get easily fascinated by people cheating on one another and stabbing each other in the back. Of course, if I knew these people personally, I might be more interested, but that's not the case. There's a scene where one of the girls catches her boyfriend in the shower with another girl, which looks straight out a soap opera. Bor-ring.
I wouldn't give this movie any awards, but it is worth watching. The men will enjoy the scantily clad women and the women will enjoy the shirtless men. There's eye candy for everyone. After watching the movie, I feel like taking a little trip over to sunny, beautiful Cancun myself.
My score: 6 (out of 10)
Even though I don't think this movie deserved as bad a rap as it received, the people who rented it were better off than those who spent the money to see it in theaters. I had an unusual urge to see this movie, yet at the same time was quite hesitant to do so. Reason why? I've never watched an episode of "The Real World" or "Road Rules" or any of those types of shows in my life, because they simply don't hold my interest. Though I'm more inclined towards movies that are realistic, I'm not a fan of the concept of the reality show. I believe art should be a depiction of reality, and not an exact imitation. So when I heard about the first "reality movie," I wasn't too impressed. However, there's a reason why sex sells, and I can't deny that the poster art for this movie, which displays a scantily clad woman splashing in the water, didn't lure me in. I knew since the movie's setting is spring break, there would be some nice footage of wet T-shirt contests. And that was no false advertising. There is some great wet T-shirt footage and shots of bare-breasted hotties.
It's true that the characters are real and the situations are real, but even documentaries are rarely totally real. There's always some sort of manipulation involved. Plus, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that people never act the same when a camera is rolling. The movie "Ed TV" does a great job at elaborating on that concept, but you can easily figure that out simply by watching your family's home videos. And if the people in front of the camera know that whatever they do will be seen on TV or on the big screen, they'll definitely behave differently. That is not to say that people in this movie are complete phonies. I'm simply saying that what you see in this movie isn't going to be a lot more real than what you'd see in a work of fiction. That's why I still regard many reality shows as "so-called reality shows." Of course, if there were hidden cameras rolling, that would be a different story, but that's violating privacy laws. Not to mention the characters in "The Real World" and "The Real Cancun" don't look like everyday people. When do they ever show people with facial blemishes or weight problems? This goes back to the media purposely expressing to its audience that THIS is how people are SUPPOSED to look like. But that's drifting into a whole 'nother issue.
I was interested in these characters for the most part, though I didn't feel an extremely close connection to any of them. But some of the characters were two-dimensional and I had a hard time believing they weren't putting on performances. I have to admit that I was rooting for Alan throughout the movie. How could I not root for someone who most people would consider a loser, and suddenly becoming a major stud? At the same time, I felt like the arc of his character was like that of a character in a fictional movie. He starts out a "loser" with glasses. I don't know why glasses always have to be associated with unattractiveness. Plus, he miraculously loses the glasses somewhere into the film (plot hole, plot hole). What happened? Did he get contact lenses or was he like Mr. Magoo throughout the rest of the vacation? He starts out with no confidence, he gets forced to drink by his fellow housemates and suddenly he becomes a totally different person with much more confidence. As I said, I couldn't help but root for him, but I find it hard to believe that he actually won that contest for the guy with the hottest body. Out of all the guys, he had the least muscle and he goes up on stage doing the most dorky dance you can think of. Yet he wins. Seems like something straight out of a movie, not reality.
The movie is by no means deep, but it does teach a few things about letting loose and having fun, and not caring what people think of you, especially when you're in Cancun and everyone there is never going to see you again. Sure, the characters drink and have promiscuous sex. Is there anything wrong with that? That's what people in their early 20's are supposed to do. I love how middle-aged people look at this movie and think of it as a wake-up call for how young people make such wastes of their lives. None of the characters are on drugs. They're not doing anything "illegal." What are you supposed to do during spring break in Cancun? Lie on the beach and read a book? The movie even taught me a few things about loosening up.
Now, onto what didn't work for me. Like episodes of "The Real World," the movie primarily deals with relationships between these young people. I'm sorry, but I don't get easily fascinated by people cheating on one another and stabbing each other in the back. Of course, if I knew these people personally, I might be more interested, but that's not the case. There's a scene where one of the girls catches her boyfriend in the shower with another girl, which looks straight out a soap opera. Bor-ring.
I wouldn't give this movie any awards, but it is worth watching. The men will enjoy the scantily clad women and the women will enjoy the shirtless men. There's eye candy for everyone. After watching the movie, I feel like taking a little trip over to sunny, beautiful Cancun myself.
My score: 6 (out of 10)