Kids' writer Harmony Korine fell off my radar after his directorial debut, Gummo. That film felt exploitative and insubstantial in a way that Larry Clark's handling of Kids transcended. Numerous short films later, Korine returns to the big screen. And this time he's set his sights on multiplexes.
Starring JamesFranco as a more developed version of Gary Oldman's Drexl in True Romance and four young actresses in breakout roles, the film is based exactly on what its title suggests. Spring break is a Florida institution that involves teenagers going crazy before heading back to school. Setting his film during spring break is a stroke of genius on Korine's part. It allows him to titillate the audience with gratuitous body shots, excessive drinking and drug taking, and seductive vistas, while crafting a film that's visually stunning and inventive. It's fun to see someone subverting the conventions of a genre while fulfilling expectations.
Stars: 4/5 Cast: Selena Gomez, James Franco, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Heather Morris, Rachel Korine, Ashley Lendzion, Gucci Mane Director: Harmony Korine Running time: 94 mins Rating: R18
