Halfway between comedy and drama, Les potes is a feature film stamped Netflix whose subject revolves around the high school years and the anxieties that can arise when it comes to thinking about the aftermath. A film with rather raw dialogues that does not renew much the genre of the teen movie.
Friendship and its obstacles
Who doesn't remember their high school years? For many, high school is the stage that allows a teenager to make his mutation and transform into an adult. First kisses, first loves and first great diploma! But when the university points the tip of its nose, it is also the first dissensions and the first questions about the solidity of the friendships forged during this period. And it is this issue that is at the center of this feature film. Les Potes tells the story of a group of girls, Lily, Chloe, Amelia and Rebecca, who are about to live their last year of high school. Often quick to do everything together, the group seems to crack slightly as the end of high school approaches. Will their friendship survive this ordeal?
Well known to seriesphiles, Lucy Hale finds herself again among a gang of girls as was her character of Aria in Pretty Little Liars. But here, there is no question for her to be worried by threatening messages. Here, the threat she faces is much more subtle since it is invisible and touches her deepest part of her soul. Her fear of losing her friends will push her to take a step back and self-analyze. She will also have to deal with the death of her boyfriend Thomas, who is also the brother of her friend Chloe (Kathryn Prescott). Lily and Chloé are also the two most developed characters in the story, leaving the other 2 young women making up the quartet a little on the tile.
Abandonment at all levels
Director Olivia Milch seems to have forgotten to develop these two characters. Amelia (Alexandra Shipp) is the character with the most assertive character, but despite this, her presence in the film is never really justified. Same thing for Rebecca (Awkwafina) who is only there to bring moments of comedy. This abandonment in character development is rather in line with what the film is about. The theme of abandonment is indeed the main purpose of the film. It is materialized by mourning at first, which can be experienced as a kind of abandonment. And of course by the fear of having to abandon his girlfriends once high school is over.
The American platform certainly wanted to get out of the shackles of classic teen movies with Les potes and thus stand out. But it is clear that the challenge has not been met. For good reason, the writing of the film does not revolutionize the genre and is rather lazy. The various issues that run through the film are resolved in an unoriginal way. At times, Les potes is even closer to a TV movie in its approach than a real cinema film. Nevertheless, the film is not necessarily painful to follow but it will not have a huge impact on consciences.
Friends do not cause boredom or passion in the viewer. A rather anecdotal film that will not mark the spirits and that will rank in the list of teen movies without added value. Available since April 20 on Netflix.
Trailer of Les Potes :
