The plot doesn't advance too much beyond what happens in the trailer. This kid, Thomas, thinks he's going to have a small/medium sized party for his birthday, but partly because of his friend Costa's advertising and partly because it's a movie, hundreds and hundreds of people show up. There's every kind of drug, complete demolition of almost the whole street, sex, and illegality of any other kind you can think of.
It's a terrible movie. I saw it and enjoyed it and I'd definitely see it again but I can't defend it as a legitimate film. It's supposed to and does look like it was filmed with a low quality camera, has almost no plot whatsoever, and a totally terrible moral. But everyone loves it. I like it, it's fun to watch. Anyone you talk to about it either says "God that was CRAZY", "Dude I want to go to a party like that so bad", or "Yeah, the soundtrack was awesome."
What's cool is that you can tell this isn't meant to be a movie the same way other movies are. It's like reality--less than perfect looking main characters, no great lesson in the end, every day problems like getting parents' permission for things. That's why the surreal parts (the college playboy bunny-ish girls, billions of people, hot high school girls who look like they're 20, and the Dad being secretly proud of him in the end) are easier to believe.
This movie also (kind of) glossed over all the negative stuff parties like this cause. They have Thomas (the host) freaking out the whole time, show things getting clearly out of hand and dangerous, and the destroyed house and monetary significance of the destruction, but they present it all as kind of insignificant. He still ends up getting the girl, Costa is loving the fame, and their lives have changed for the better. If that had been real life, people would have died and all the main characters would be jailed for involuntary manslaughter. His parents' lives would've been ruined, everyone in his high school would have STDs, and every girl who went would hate herself for the rest of her life.
They manage to present it as a real possibility, and a perfect night that only exists in party utopia at the same time. So, people really want to go to it, and don't worry about the insanity that in reality probably wouldn't even be fun. (I'd still go.) It's the perfect combination of realism and fantasy that really appeals to teenagers.
The music is also a big part of this movie's appeal. It is also geared to teenagers, and different groups of teenagers. There's Pusha T, D-12, Dr. Dre and Waka Flocka for the hip hop fans, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Shiny Toy Guns for the white kids, and total party music for everyone once they get into the spirit of the movie. They have some songs (Tipsy, Fight Music, Pursuit of Happiness) that everyone knows, and hearing them in a soundtrack makes you feel more connected to the movie.
Some needs this movie appealed to were the need for affiliation, and the need for autonomy. In the beginning, Thomas is a sad, unknown nerd, and just wants to be cool for one night. He goes to great (great, great) lengths to get noticed by the people of his school and even the rest of his town and make new friends. This is probably something on most high schoolers' minds, so it speaks to the target audience.
Also, in all of the previews, instead of saying "showing" or "coming out" on March 2, they say, "You're invited." This movie is about being part of something, not watching a film. It's all ridiculous, but it works.
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