Directed By: Chris Nelson
Written By: Willie Block and Jake Emanuel
Cinematography: Dino Parks
Editor: Rick Grayson
Cast: Billy Magnussen, Lil Rel Howey, Jamie Chung, Nina Dobrev, Jillian Bell, Michael Hitchcock, Chace Crawford, Dianne Doan, Cassandra Blair, Shaun White
Snowbound at their high school reunion, former classmates uncover a murder and scramble to identify the killer among them before they’re all iced out for good.
This film is OK a pretty good time waster though it’s comparison to the similarly themed and released television series from Apple TV THE AFTERPARTY is truly it’s downfall, which is a shame as if not for that this would’ve been a good comedy
So if you haven’t seen THE AFTER PARTY, this actually might be something you’ll enjoy but if you have, you’ll see how much more creative the show is with it story as well as similar characters in their development in African-American protagonist who looks more and more like the guilty party, the unexpected reveal of the killer and an Asian female love interest for one of the characters.
What is film does have going for it is a good cast. That all deserve better, but strangely always seem cast in these types of films that goes straight to streaming have interesting premises but don’t quite live up to their potential and could easily be better and seem to lack a certain flare
I will admit I have a weakness when it comes to actress Jamie Chung. I remeber her from THE REAL WORLD reality television show and is one of the breakout successes of it but never given that respect or credit. as I believe her to be one of the most beautiful actresses who seems to never get the right or that many good roles she should definitely be a star by now, but seems stuck in these clunky, comedies and roles where she has very little breakout potential, but is easily the most interesting or best thing in it. In films like this. BURNING PALMS, STONE COLD FOX and the television series LOVECRAFT COUNTY. Though at least she is constantly working
She’ not alone most of the cast are recognizable and deserve better then this Billy Magnussen, Lil Rel Howey, Jillian Bell, and Nina Dobrev as most of them have been scene stealers and comedic relief in bigger films. They just never quite got their chance to shine in their own high-quality film.
It also doesn’t help that by the end once the killer is revealed it just feels like they just threw it out there because they were running out of time as they don’t really explain motive they give a blanket one, but after you’ve spent so much time with these characters, it would be nice if it ran a bit deeper than what we are given
The film is a perfectly fine time waster but it seems to just get by and never go for the juggler when it can. It never takes the opportunities it sets up. It never quite pushes the envelope or trusts itself to go further or be better so that it always just stay safe and in the mid range and you can feel the frustration watching it.
The cast seems to be having fun and enjoying each others company. As half of them are exec producers and producers of the film.
The one thing it does have going for it is that it does set out clues so you can’t say that the ending is made up and it does have a high rewatch ability factor even if it doesn’t quite succeed.
Grade: C
