Netflix’s ‘Incoming’ Movie (2024) is a Throwback to R-rated Comedies like American Pie and Superbad

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Netflix's Bawdy New Comedy Incoming is a Throwback to R-rated Comedies like American Pie

As the sons of Peter Chernin, who was CEO of Fox for over ten years, Dave and John Chernin grew up surrounded by wealth and influence. Even with all their privilege, some experiences are universal. For example, they share a memory from their teenage years that many people can relate to. It’s the story of their next-door neighbor throwing a huge party.

Netflix’s ‘Incoming’ Movie (2024)

John Chernin recalls, “Dave and I were sitting by a window with the lights off, watching a wild high school party next door. We thought it was the craziest thing we had ever seen,” in an interview with Netflix’s Tudum.

Netflix's Bawdy New Comedy Incoming is a Throwback to R-rated Comedies like American Pie
Netflix’s Bawdy New Comedy Incoming is a Throwback to R-rated Comedies like American Pie (Image: Google)

Their new film, a nod to classic R-rated comedies like American Pie, tells the story of a high school party and a night that changes everything for a group of freshmen. These kids are at an age where every little thing feels significant, and a house party can seem huge.

Since the Chernins, who wrote for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, are now older, they decided to turn their long-time movie ideas into the high school film they had always wanted to make. Even though big studios have moved away from these kinds of comedies, partly because of changing views on humor, they pushed ahead.

Dave Chernin explained, “We chose the title Incoming and realized it was about four freshmen dealing with an early-life identity crisis. This idea became the core of the story.”

Netflix's Bawdy New Comedy Incoming is a Throwback to R-rated Comedies like American Pie
Netflix’s Bawdy New Comedy Incoming is a Throwback to R-rated Comedies like American Pie (Image: Google))

Incoming will be available on Aug. 23. The connection to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is notable because the Chernins had to “beg” Kaitlin Olson to take a role as a mother in the film. The cast includes some familiar faces, like Olson and Bobby Cannavale, but mostly features new actors.

The logline for Incoming is straightforward: “Four freshmen face their biggest challenge yet: their first high school party.”

Netflix’s ‘Incoming’ Movie (2024)

One detail from the trailer stood out to me: none of the teenagers have phones. This suggests that the story is set in a different time. Also, it’s impressive that the film features real teenagers in the roles, which feels refreshingly original.