XOXO (2016)

Why so much hype?

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

This film tells the story of an aspiring DJ who plays for the first time in a major festival.I love EDM to bits, and I have been looking forward to this film for a long time. The music is great, and the festival looks like what I imagine it to be. However, the story spends too much time meandering the back story before the festival. The characters are not that interesting either. I was quite bored in the first half, but the film did get better when the electronic music kicks in.

Upon reading the description I had high hopes for the story and reference to the EDM community. However, high hopes were quickly demolished. References to the EDM community as being a ragtag group of drug heads casts a very high shadow on a very welcoming and accepting group of individuals. This film has done nothing more than to hit home the idea to the general public that EDM fans are nothing more than drug using delinquents. The truth is far from what XOXO has portrayed. The film has left out a major part and foundation of the EDM culture which is to accept one another. Instead, the film has decided to portray a stereotypical view which is that of drugs, sex, and scandalous behavior. Perhaps before making a movie in such a distinct genre, producers and directors alike should dive deeper into such a sub-genre in order to gain a true introspective. Very little evidence based on this film shows that they have not done their research.

This is a short and sweet movie with an infectious positive feel and a great soundtrack. It's an easy watch that is good fun with some laugh out loud moments. XOXO is not blow your mind amazing but worth a watch on a lazy day. The acting is pretty good and there are some beautiful visuals involved. Especially good if you've been to a festival as it shows festivals for the drug crazy mad places that they often are, just with a lot more mud than in this movie! XOXO handles the multiple story lines quite well, but more emphasis on the older guy's story would be better.Some finer details in the plot seemed to be brushed over but it's understandable as there are multiple plots occurring. Overall this is one of the best things Sarah Hyland has done outside of Modern Family.

I am hugely disappointed by this film. I'm not sure what the story was really trying to do, it wasn't amusing or in any way entertaining. If you want to watch a good festival film watch Under The Electric Sky because it's actually good. This film portrayed loads of typical festival/drug stereotypes like everybody at these things is a total moron, that's not been my experience. Acting - awful. Music, not enough of it and mostly boring. Spend your time doing something other than watching this, trust me! Also, why does it need to be so cynical? I suppose it's not cool to be nice anymore. Why can't more people make good party films? Relatively simple concept and a lot of fun but so few people seem to have got it right.