REVIEW: I'M GONNA EXPLODE
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TWO teens rebel against everything and nothing in the energetic but messy Mexican drama I'M GONNA EXPLODE (15) - a title that not only refers to the characters' state of mind but also the audience's patience.
After shocking his school talent show with a mock hanging, Ramon (Juan Pablo de Santiago) hooks up with equally rebellious Maru (Maria Deschamps) and decides to show the world what-for by cooking up a fake kidnapping lark. While their parents launch a desperate search, the duo set up camp (literally) on the roof of the house of Ramon's politician father.
Director Gerardo Naranjo's film is artful and vibrant, with strong performances from the young leads, but it all feels aimless.
Maybe that's the point, after all these kids don't really know what they're angry about, but it means the characters remain distant, irritating and in dire need of a good slap to set them straight.
If the kids are rebels without a cause, Naranjo wears his heart on his sleeve. The film is a love letter to Jean-Luc Godard and the "Nouvelle Vague" style, with great chunks of Godard recreated without Naranjo adding much of his own to the mix.
Those not in on the references may wonder what the point is of another uninvolving teen angst drama, as the action rarely digs deeper than a Where's Wally exercise for die-hard cinema fans. - JUSTIN MATLOCK
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