Stream on Netflix
Four teenage boys try to become popular during their first week of high school by attending a massive party. They get caught up in a wild night of drinking, bad decisions, and gross-out comedy. The movie is mostly a throwback to classic raunchy comedies. However, some modern identity elements are visible in the background, including a lesbian older sister dealing with a breakup and a brief scene showing two gay boys together.
Why 43%? See the score breakdownBreakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Incoming.
Woke representation / casting
The movie features a diverse group of main friends, including Black, Latino, and Middle Eastern actors. The most notable casting is Ali Gallo as Alyssa, the main character's lesbian sister, and there is also a brief scene with two gay teenagers.
45%
Woke political dialogue
The film does not have any serious political speeches or activist lectures. The closest thing is a joke where Alyssa claims her nose job helped her activate her true self, but she is portrayed as shallow and the other characters mock her for it.
0%
Production
Identity-driven story themes
The main plot is a traditional comedy about young boys trying to impress girls. The only identity elements come from a minor side plot about the lesbian sister's dating drama and an incidental scene of two gay boys.
35%
Western institutional / cultural critique
There is no activist critique of Western values, capitalism, or traditional families. School officials and parents are depicted as silly or useless, but this is done for classic comedic effects rather than to push a social-justice agenda.
10%
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant.
0%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Some conservative and family-focused review sites complained about the film's normalization of teenage drinking, drug use, and homosexual content. However, there was no major mainstream political boycott or viral anti-woke backlash.
25%
Creator track record context
The movie was written and directed by Dave and John Chernin, who have very low scores of 7/100. However, the wider crew includes a highly progressive casting director and a producer with a history of queer-focused films, resulting in a mild composite score.
25%
