The ingredients for Detention, starring “it” kid Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games) and newcomer Shanly Caswell, are quite simple. You mix equal parts of Heathers, Mean Girls, Scream, Napoleon Dynamite, Crank, Donnie Darko, Cabin Fever, Eyes Wide Shut, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Superbad and maybe Planet Terror. Then you add a little Back to the Future, Star Trek, a sprinkle of My So-Called Life and a dash of UHF...and whatever else you might have lying around. Blend.
The results are a hypnotic hipster acid trip – a brazenly irreverent jolt to the system that screams cult gem. Simply put, Detention will either have you yelling at the screen, angry that the film loses focus quicker than a child with ADD, or you'll simply sit back and enjoy the weird-ass, shockingly original, ride this film is poised to take you on. And to be honest, if you fall on the side of hate, you're not wrong for feeling that way. After all, not every film is meant to work with all audiences. And Detention definitely tests one's enjoyment of the odd and bizarre.
But Joseph Kahn's rapid-fire cerebral comedy is nothing short of brilliant. Not only does the film harbor enough spirit and humor for at least six films, but Detention also captures the intoxicating zeitgeist of a generation built entirely on empty cliches, irony, merciless energy and hollow nostalgia, sped up thanks to the never-ending 24-hour TMZ-infused cycle. Kahn's voice doesn't necessarily speak for all kids, but rather, he speaks for those who've reached the precipice of their own sanity, and are left pondering their existence, and what's next.
What does their generation mean if all they have are meaningless Facebook updates, texts, tweets and shallow ideas born from the '70s, '80s and '90s, packaged and recycled as something fresh and new – something with meaning. While the energetic images and lightning-fast story on-screen feel a bit empty and thin, that's kinda the point. At its heart, Detention is a shockingly meaningful, potent film about the nature of meaninglessness and its damning effects on the younger generation. Why do hipsters exist? Because we created them.
But you don't need to walk into Detention expecting some sort of life revelation. On the surface, the film is enormously entertaining, swapping back and forth between several angst-ridden youngsters, wrapped within an creepy mystery about a murderous killer offing the kids one-by-one. And the ride is nothing short of wild, poking fun at cliches while adding a dash of incredible originality.
There's a school bully, the feminist stereotype, the nervous dork, Star Trek references galore, the angry principal (played by Dane Cook, who's quite tolerable here in his amusing scene-stealing role), a time-traveling bear, a fly man, the big game, bowling, and an ax-wielding psychopath. While the meta-meter is rather high (perhaps annoyingly so), with references to movies, music and pop culture in every corner, Detention dares to be different. It dares to mock the conventions and cliches of its generation, and it manages to churn out a damn fun movie along the way, that is, if you can tolerate a fast, bumpy ride, with plenty of spins, whirls and head-shaking turns.
Detention arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The film is presented in 2.35:1, encoded in 1080p/AVC, and mixed in 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. Shot on Red One MX cameras, Detention has a sharp, crisp glossy shine that gives plenty of zip to the splashy colors and intentionally overcooked visual design. While a bit video-like at times, this is a striking presentation that pops right off the screen in the best of ways. Audio is also outstanding and aggressive, with clean, crackle-free dialogue, hearty bass and atmospheric surround usage. Rarely does the track succumb to the crowded narrative.
Extras include a picture-in-picture track loaded with a wealth of info, including behind-the-scenes tidbits, cast and crew interviews and much more. If you dig the film, check it out. Rounding out the extras, there's a quick outtakes reel featuring the “lovable” (please read sarcastically) Dane Cook, a fight scene rehearsal, screen tests and trailers.
Detention is a hard film to describe, let alone recommend. But, if you're a fan of cult gems like Donnie Darko, Heathers or something off-the-wall like The FP (review here), give the film a shot. It looks and sounds terrific on Blu-ray, and the extras add plenty of insight. However, if you're a lover of Josh Hutcherson simply looking for another film with him in it, something straight forward, might I suggest Little Manhattan, the Journey films or Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant instead.
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