Overview and Premise
The Package is a Netflix released exaggerated teenage comedy from August 2018. Under the direction of Jake Szymanski, the film captures a group of teenage friends whose gentle camping getaway transforms into an unhinged quest to save a severed body part. Despite the crude foundation, the venture is heartwarming in its loyalty and teenage friendship, wrapped in heartfelt and slapstick moments along with comedy.
The film’s bold central concept of a teenage boy getting a prank gone wrong by mistakenly chopping off his own penis sets the stage for the frantic sequence. The emotional growth complemented with the toilet humor adds warmth to the absurdity.
Plot Summary
The story begins with Sean Floyd, the awkward teen who had been studying in Germany, comes back and reunites with childhood friends Jeremy and Donnie. They are joined with Becky who is Jeremy’s twin sister and Sarah who is her best friend. The camping trip is accompanied with certain turbulence as Sean has a crush on Becky, Donnie and Sarah are on bad terms after having dated, and Chad who is Becky’s freshly broken up ex is a jerk.
While relaxing at the lake, Jeremy tries to impress his friends by showing off and intoxicated by the moment. While he is supposedly taking a bathroom break, he carelessly plays with a switchblade and, to everyone’s astonishment, accidentally cuts his penis off. While help is sought out, the rest of the people panic and try to remediate the situation. He is meant to be airlifted to a hospital but in the mix of things, they end up sending a cooler to the doctors that has no relation to the “medical cooler” that they were supposed to receive, leading them to leaving the severed penis behind.
Ticking time bomb—Jeremy is meant to be in surgery while reattachment surgery is taking place—he cannot be in the hospital without the severed limb, so the rest of the teenagers go on a quest to navigate forests and small towns while facing the most absurd of hurdles, along with an unwanted deal with a manipulative child that ends up getting him bitten by a snake which ultimately leads to him being mistaken for a man who undergoes a surgery that attaches his severed penis to the wrong man. What follows is something that people do not wish to associate themselves with—“embarrassing” but for the viewers, it is a delight filled with humor.
As people undergo changes, relationships tend to crash and burn along with changing because of the shenanigans they end up undergoing. What results from everything that is happening leads Sean to finally admitting that he has feelings towards Becky. Donnie entwined with Sarah also seem to rekindle the bond alongside, Jeremy despite undergoing surgery intending to fix the horrifying predicament, reveals his insecurities, resulting in lasting changes and emerges as a more open person filled with confidence.
The film resolves with a desperate attempt to reclaim Jeremy’s misplaced organ from the man who had it grafted onto him. In a peculiar and humorous turn of events, his girlfriend re-severs it in an act of anger, which enables the teenagers to retrieve the organ and deliver it to Jeremy right in the nick of time. Thereafter, he heals, his relationships mend, and the film concludes with all the characters having gained wisdom, having been shifted much closer to each other, and having hopefully become much more careful with sharp objects.
Characters and Performances
Sean Floyd is portrayed by Daniel Doheny, and he is the sensible yet somewhat awkward member of the group. He supports a good part of the emotional load in the film as the loyalty bound friend who bends over backwards to try and do the right thing.
Geraldine Viswanathan portrays Becky Abelar, who is smart and confident. She is also Sean’s love interest. Her performance both counters some of the chaos and thus balances out the group’s emotional development.
Sadie Calvano as Sarah: Sarah is a sensitive but sardonic character and an ex of Donnie. Their evolving interactions start off as sharp, witty insults and over time become more tender as the film continues.
Luke Spencer Roberts as Donnie: Donnie is the loud and crass bully of the group, but he is the one who changes the most as he reveals unexpected layers of kindness.
Eduardo Franco as Jeremy Abelar: Jeremy, as the key “victim” of the story, spends most of the film hospitalized and off-screen. However, his physical misfortune is transformed into something surprisingly sympathetic through the humor and pathos he brings to his few scenes.
The ensemble cast is very good at delivering humorous lines to and from each other, which works perfectly within the context of the film’s manic pace and wild set pieces.
Direction and Style
The film is directed by Jake Szymanski, who is known for his intense sketch comedy style and over-the-top humor. He brings a relentless intensity to the film’s premise and his unusually high-energy direction doesn’t help control the pace. The film certainly does not win any points for tone. It is juvenile in the most unapologetic sense, but it never tries to be anything other than a ridiculous raunchy road-trip movie with heavy doses of bizarre—even for this film’s standards. Unlike other forgettable gross-out comedies, this one stands out because of the heart it has at its core. Amid all the crude jokes, there is a strong emotional center around friendship, loyalty, and the discovery that comes with being an adolescent.
The film combines situational chaos, physical comedy, and snappy, witty dialogue to create a brisk pace. Some of the humor is cringe-worthy, but there are unexpected interactions that counterbalance the eye rolling.
Themes and Messages
On a deeper level, beneath the layers of shocking moments, The Package delves into multiple pertinent issues:
Teen Insecurity and Masculinity: Symbolically, Jeremy’s injury encapsulates male weakness. The film explores teenage masculinity, particularly in the context of physicality and sexual identity.
Friendship and Loyalty: The universality of this message is quite profound—doing the impossible for people we love. It shows the sympathy and humor in the surreal effort of friendship that goes into rescuing Jeremy.
Romantic Development: The contrasting romantic pairs Sean and Becky, and Donnie and Sarah offer emotional moments in juxtaposition to the physical comedy.
Embarrassment and Death: The picture illustrates teenagers’ attitudes toward embarrassment and mortality. The quartet’s road trip represents an emotional odyssey through the teenage years—over the top yet strangely relatable.
Reception and Influence
The Package, when released, became a hotbed of mixed to positive reviews. While not acclaimed as a cinematic masterpiece, it found its place as a cult classic within edgy teenage comedies. Critics noted its absurd premise but praised its character-driven humor and unexpected depth.
Its success stemmed from its sincerity—fully embracing its absurd premise while still allowing for character growth. The Package delivers for viewers who enjoy Superbad or American Pie, but seek something even more outlandish.
Conclusion
The Package is a bold modern teen comedy and off-the-wall satire that pushes boundaries in a film while crafting a narrative about teenage friendship and emotional growth. While it might not appeal to everyone, its unwavering commitment to heart and humor elevates the film’s performances, making it a remarkable offering in the modern teen comedy landscape. Behind the ridiculous narrative lies a thoughtful exploration of the journey toward emotional maturity, acceptance, and genuine connection amid the most absurd circumstances.
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