'Project X' stretches the limits of rated 'R'

"Project X" is the kind of fantasy that a 15-year-old boy would love, although parents probably should keep younger teens far, far away. This movie pushes the boundaries of its R rating about as far as they can go.

Using the trendy found-footage technique, the movie looks at nondescript Pasadena teen Thomas (Thomas Mann). His parents' anniversary falls on the same day as his 17th birthday, so the adults are conveniently out of town. That means obnoxious pal Costa (Oliver Cooper) and chubby friend JB (Jonathan Daniel Brown) can browbeat him into throwing an enormous party.

The bash grows, thanks to Costa's marketing — Craigslist! — and some media coverage, and eventually tops out at 1,500 people. There are naked girls in the pool, drugs galore, alcohol everywhere and even a dwarf in the oven. Yes, you read that correctly.

The whole thing is chaotic and crazy, but it's also fairly predictable. As soon as we learn that Thomas' dad cherishes his Mercedes, for example, you know the car will not emerge unscathed from the driveway.

There are some amusing bits along the way. The sight of an adorable little pooch becoming airborne when he's attached to some balloons makes for a great visual, as does the concept of two aggressive 12-year-olds working security at the party. And, let us repeat, there is a dwarf in the oven.

Still, the film's nonstop raunchiness quickly wears thin. There's nothing wrong with bad taste if we care about the characters, but no one here is particularly likable or compelling. The acting is hit or miss — Cooper, in particular, is aggressively irritating — and there's not a lot of momentum to push things forward.

Another reason the movie doesn't work: Director Nima Nourizadeh never creates a feeling of warmth among the characters. You don't buy that these guys are friends, and the movie lacks the heart that made such films as "Superbad" and "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" rise above their genres. Without that, all you've got is an unending stream of grossness.