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This is what would happen if a talented teenager tried to make a "Teen Boner Drama" instead of a comedy. It's still pretty pretentious at times, feels very angsty, and has quite a very scenes that feel like their only value is shock value. Despite this, the acting is pretty great and even the guys that are kind of awful at least feel very authentic. Stephen Jasso is the best example of this. Every one of his lines is stilted and awkward and feels like a fourth grader reading aloud in class, but I still believed everything he said, so it's a weird scenario. Ken Park is four stories bookended by the short story of the titular Ken Park. Each story is very uncomfortable and disturbing with a mixture of the three teen movie tent-poles: sex, drugs, and hating your parental figures. Some are better defined than others, but none really get enough time to feel like a whole story. I am never scared during horror movies, but Kent Park (which Wikipedia calls a "erotic drama") had me constantly on edge, dreading what comes next. It's like Happiness, but without the humor. It's incredibly dark and beyond the few scenes where James Ransone's ass-holery has an uncomfortable humor, there isn't anything other than bleak. At no time was I enjoying the movie and other than being impressed by a few performances (Wade Williams in particular) I wasn't really getting anything out of the film making either. The script is underwritten, every character needs more development, and it's unclear exactly what this movie is trying to accomplish. Ken Park is technically well made, but the plot is lacking and the acting is hit or miss.
By : Greg Mueller | Date : 3 years ago