Yes this is a convoluted, over the top, cinematically offensive mess of a film but it's also one of the coolest films I've seen in quite some time. Embracing every tired cliché and exploiting the hell out of them Detention is a hard movie to even sum up. If in fact you can even call it one. I'm sure as many people will hate it as love it. The bizarre social subtext and plastic infusion of stereotypes flipped on their sides while on acid lends itself to an always surprising and creative vibe that works more than not. Sure the film feels a little long in it's three ring circus finale trying to make insane sense of the events that proceeded it but the film works best when just making clever stabs at modern teen thinking and astute observations on the trendiness of trends. Joseph Kahn redeems himself of the cinematic stink from his previous eye popping but soulless feature Torque even adding in a few jokes at his expense.A music video director magnet of Britney Spears fame he unleashes Detention with a visual pizazz and over the top cinematic foray into smart thinking for 90s bad cinema buffs. Being a child of that era I couldn't help but appreciate all the references and the way it all added up, seeing the blatant irony in the films entirety it's hard for me not too overly praise the films bombastic effect but a second more in tuned watch I feel would expose the films faults and maybe a sense of brilliance I may have created. but at this point Detention is just really cool!

The self-referential pop-culture meta-jokes run fast and furious in this mess of a film for the ADD adderal-adled generation. Imagine if Scott Pilgrim forcibly had his way with Heathers. Now imagine that... On drugs and you won't even come close to the ridiculous little idocracy/deconstruction of genre movie isotopes. Perhaps a few laughs are to be had scattered amongst the running time but that's only playing to the law of averages as the 'film' plays fast and loose with anything approaching a comprehend able story and thus it's scatter-shot jokes are sure to hit the bullseye at some points. Alas the ratio sadly skews to the awkward missing side, consider this an experimental hipster failure if you must, I'm more likely to think it a "Not Another Teen Movie" lamester parody.

PS: Dane Cook is awful, just throwing that out there

This is a fast paced "Student Bodies" meets "Scott Pilgrim" type of movie. The humor comes at you quick and you must pay attention. It is a teen slasher spoof film, but also tosses in a few aspects of other films. There are clues as to what is going on, but don't worry about trying to catch them and figure out the film, just enjoy the scenes.

Some lines that come too mind:

"Pregnant teens are never funny." A clear slap at "Juno."

"I only eat baby animals."

"Pain don't hurt."

"Where did you learn to make a snuff porno? Lady Gaga?"

"Gnawing through boyfriends like an unfed piranha."

"This human conversation thing isn't working. Let's do texting."

The production incorporates numerous obscure 1980's references, some of which are explained. The film is done in a modern quirky "Scott Pilgrim..." style, but knowledge of 1980s movies is helpful in order to enjoy the feature.

There is a slasher at school. Meanwhile Ione (Spencer Locke),the cute air headed blond likes under achiever cool guy Clapton Davis (Josh Hutcherson). She has given up her jock boyfriend Billy Nolan (Parker Bagley)for him. He wants to beat up Clapton over her, and he is willing to fight for her because she is deep and likes Sting. Meanwhile Riley Jones (Shanley Caswell) has a crush on Clapton and becomes a third wheel.

PARENTAL GUIDE: F-bombs, brief sex and brief nudity.