There are a lot of teenage-y elements to this film: overuse of sexual undertones, tension of the same kind, drugs and rebellion but even with all that, Palo Alto is just not as daring and crazy and - because I feel like it's the only word that carries my meaning - not exciting enough.
I don't know if it's meant as a subversion of a normally overused genre to make the movie a little more contemplative but it is. There are often poignant quieter moments that I first felt betrayed by but then though "oh, oh this belongs here". In that way, the movie is more closely a drama about teenagers living in a small community than anything else. It turns out to be a very good exploration of it's main subjects Teddy and April, boy and girl, set against the stereotypes and suffocating peer pressure of their society, on that note I really enjoyed both of their respective actors' performances as well. Emma Roberts even more so because she manages to betray a sense of innocence amidst the loose and "fun and naughty" teenage parties and she does so naturally as part of her character through her expressions, her body language. Despite James Franco being in the film, he doesn't do any of his crazy stuff and the most energized performance goes to Nat Wolfe as Fred, Teddy's friend. That dude is loud, mean and dumb as fuck.
It's nonexistent plot-wise and I don't hold that against it, a movie should be allowed any way it wants to flow to say what it wants to. I do think it could have been a little-bit tighter pacing wise.
Overall, 6/10. I can say I don't dislike the film, rather enjoyed my time with it and I think it has at-least something to say.
