Alexander IRL

Alexander IRL is a 2017 teen comedy-drama web film directed by K. Asher Levin and written by Brandon Cohen. It stars Nathan Kress, Brent Rivera, Ryan Newman, Bo Mitchell, and Marcus Scribner. Produced by Rob Fishman, Levin, and Rivera, it follows a trio trying to find popularity by throwing a party and, specifically to the leader, impressing his crush, as the brother of the leader begs him to make an app prototype, involving his party. The film was released on YouTube Red on January 11, and received mixed reviews.

Alexander IRL
Promotional poster
Directed byK. Asher Levin
Produced byRob Fishman
Brent Rivera
K. Asher Levin
Screenplay byBrandon Cohen
StarringNathan Kress
Brent Rivera
Ryan Newman
Bo Mitchell
Marcus Scribner
Music byTaylor Locke
Tim Sommer
CinematographyAlexander Bergman
Edited byKhalie Anderson
Production
company
Blessedly Silent Films
Distributed byYouTube Red
Release date
January 11, 2017
Running time
86 mins
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Spanish

Plot

Alexander Finn is a high school student, sticking with friends Darius and Stuart, never socializing with others. Alex has a crush on a girl named Lo, whom popular student Cole Winnard has a crush on too. One day, multimedia teacher Mr. Eskin announces a presentation project, with the theme 'you.' Alex also has a big brother named EJ, who works at a venture company that is participating in an innovation challenge to make an app using General Electric's cloud to enhance everyday lives. EJ keeps encouraging colleague Ellie to use his ideas, wanting to be the next Mark Zuckerberg.[1]

One day, Alex and EJ's parents are going on a honeymoon. With them out of town, Stu encourages Alex to impress Lo and have a good presentation content by throwing a party. Meanwhile, Ellie accepts one of EJ's ideas that prevents phone addiction and climate change, and tells EJ to submit the prototype on Thursday. Alex and EJ tried relieving hardships via Craigslist, but it turned out to be a scam. Alex then notifies EJ about their plan. Alex consents on a quid pro quo, and EJ allows the party if Alex creates the prototype. He also wants the party comers to install the app and turn their phones down, as a test run.

EJ meets Alex with his party organizer friend Nine, however his efforts did not get paid off. EJ then invites students directly, and the unexpected plan blasts tweets. The prototype is finished and accepted. With the tweets, the trio got their social hierarchy soar.

The party is thrown, and everyone agreed with the rule and enjoyed partying. EJ also invites colleague Owen Reed, Ellie, and envious colleague Jonathan to the party. Due to the boisterous mood of the party, Cole, who was known for organizing parties, lost his social rank. As a revenge, he gaslights Lo. Darius rants to Alex and EJ for throwing the party but tells himself to just monitor the comers' devices. Jonathan secretly calls the cops for underage drinking. The cops came; EJ and Owen is arrested. They are released the next day. At the same time, Lo dumps Alex.

Mr. Eskin tells the class that the presentation is tomorrow, and Alex quickly made it. As Alex is presenting, he apologizes to everyone mad at him for his ego, and realizing that to be oneself is utmost priority. EJ then appeared at the stage, presenting the app, and announces the app, IRL (acronym for 'in real life'). Mr. Eskin, Nine, and EJ then teamed up as the founding fathers of IRL. Lo and Alex reconcile, and they become friends.

Cast
In an interview, Rivera expresses relatability with the character he portrays, an enclosed teenager excessively sticking to his phone, with a narrow social circle. "I think what Alex did during the movie was break out of his shell to try and throw the party and get the girl and be popular. I get that to a point." However, he stated that the later actions his character does in the film is "not something I would really do." He said that the scene where his character kisses his crush (Newman) is his favorite scene to cast on.[2]
Like Rivera, Scribner thinks his character hits close with his own self, reflecting on the nerdy traits Darius has. However he said, "I think that's where the similarities kind of taper off, because Darius does not like to have fun. I like to have a bit of fun from time to time." Scribner thought that the entire scene during which the party was held is his favorite part of the film.[2]

Production

On July 20, 2016, Dave McNary of Variety announced that Kress and Rivera, both being internet personalities, would be starring in an independent teen comedy titled Alexander IRL, which would start shooting the same week of publication in Los Angeles.[1] K. Asher Levin, the film's director, adapted a screenplay by Brandon Cohen. Rob Fishman, Levin and Rivera become the film's producers. The production team said that they will also be partnering with GE and startups BarkBox, Jack Threads, and Warby Parker.[1] In an interview with director of innovation San Olstein, he said that this movie is experimental to GE, and that it makes the industrial internet more relatable to a much younger segment than they usually reach out to. They were introduced to the film's synopsis by Fishman.[3]

In order to gain audiences, Levin says that "The idea was to bring someone like Brent, who has such an incredible reach with people 12-18 and above, to get them to watch one of these movies. Brent allowed us to have a whole captive audience." Levin cited John Hughes' films, American Graffiti, and Dazed and Confused as infuences on the film's narrative. The first feature film he stars in, Rivera faced various pressures, most notably on the schedules and to show up on set.[4] Rivera reflected on the friendship between all the cast and crew members, that the film's production was like "a big hangout sesh."[2]

Release

On November 18, McNary learned exclusively that the film will be posted on YouTube Red on December 14. Levin states that they're "thrilled that YouTube Red Originals shares our vision of bringing back the teen films that our generation grew up on."[5] The teaser was posted on July 25, 2016, just six days after the Variety announcement, on a channel called Alexander IRL.[6] It features a sliding shot of the three main characters showing off at their school corridor, with the song "We're on Fire" by Airplane Man.[7] The official trailer was then posted on Brent's channel on January 5. There, it is stated to be released on January 11, which contradicts Variety's statement.[8]

A website for the film was made, with the film able to be watched with a price. It is also available on Roku[3] and iTunes.[9]

Reception
Brandchannel and Common Sense Media have opposing thoughts on the film

Brian Castello of Common Sense Media gave the film a 1 out of 5 stars, stating that "While the movie tries to make a perhaps satirical comment on how teens in particular live more through their smartphones than they do 'IRL,' this message gets muddied in what amounts to an incoherent story and unfunny comedy." He pointed the lack of a coherent storyline and "a single 'LOL' moment." He opined that YouTube Red "is determined to put out the worst movies they possibly can, and with this one they keep this trend going." Saying that it is "amateur filmmaking at its absolute worst," Castello thought, "the movie's themes contradict and double-back on themselves so much, it no longer remotely matters what the overall point is, assuming there even is a point."[10]

In another side, Brandchannel wrote that "projects like Alexander IRL are quietly redefining how movies go from idea to audience." It noted that the film is more targeted towards audiences of the young demographic, "whose lives intermingle streaming scripted material with Hollywood films and social-generated content", rather than the old.[3]

References
  1. McNary, Dave (2016-07-20). "Brent Rivera, Nathan Kress to Star in 'Alexander IRL' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on 2020-04-25. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  2. "Marcus Scribner & Brent Rivera Tell Us Filming Alexander IRL Was Like a 'Big Hangout Sesh'". Sweety High. 2017-01-10. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
  3. "'Alexander IRL' Movie: 5 Questions With GE on YouTube Filmmaking". Brandchannel. 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  4. Klassen, Anna (2018-09-01). "'Alexander IRL' Star Brent Rivera Talks Social Media Stardom & Why He Has A Bloody Nose". Bustle. Archived from the original on 2020-12-21. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  5. McNary, Dave (2016-11-28). "Brent Rivera-Nathan Kress Comedy 'Alexander IRL' to Get December Release on YouTube Red". Variety. Archived from the original on 2019-04-12. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  6. "Alexander IRL Official Teaser". Alexander IRL (YouTube channel). Archived from the original on 2020-08-10. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  7. Lipsitz, Jordana (2016-07-25). "'Alexander IRL' Looks Hilarious". Bustle. Archived from the original on 2020-12-21. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  8. "Alexander IRL - OFFICIAL TRAILER". Brent Rivera (on YouTube). Archived from the original on 2020-08-01. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
  9. "Watch Alexander IRL (2017) Movie Online: Full Movie Streaming - MSN.com". MSN Entertainment. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
  10. Castello, Brian (2017-04-09). "Alexander IRL - Movie Review". Common Sense Media. Archived from the original on 2020-06-27. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
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