The thing about house parties in the movies is they’re usually entertaining as hell for us as viewers, but for the participants they often seem more stressful and chaotic and cringe-inducing than actual big-time fun fests. Whether it’s “The Great Gatsby” or “Sixteen Candles,” “Animal House” or “Superbad,” “Risky Business” or “Booksmart,” “Babylon” or “Project X,” everyone looks like they’re trying really hard to have the most memorable time of their lives even as we know there’s a solid chance the night is going to be filled with vomiting and arguments and fights and betrayals and regrets and almost certain destruction of property.
One of the unique things about the original “House Party” from 1990 is while there was an abundance of energetic and exhilarating dancing, the party itself was almost secondary to all the action that took place OUTSIDE the party. As actual house parties go, it was a relatively tame affair. (It’s kind of a running joke that the guests, including the bad guys, knock on the door instead of just barging in. Polite! And a broken toilet means the end of the party.)
