The new film 21 and Over wastes little time establishing itself as a loud and unapologetic party movie. Those expecting a soft approach to this binge-drinking spectacle obviously missed the fact that this movie is rated R and is from the writers of The Hangover. In other words, this movie may be hard on shock value but it’s also soft on originality.

Jon Lucas and Scott Moore are the aforementioned writers and this time around they also step into the director’s chair. These two believe in the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach so 21 and Over plays like a college rehash of other, much better party movies. The film opens in the same way the Hangover movies do (makes sense), our exhausted leads confront the audience after a wild night of partying and must retrace their steps to the beginning. In the case of 21 and Over this includes copious amounts of booze, nudity and destruction. Not necessarily a bad thing but when seen done better in other recent movies it becomes a problem.

The thrust of the film lies in three best friends partying their asses off on the night that one of them gloriously turns 21 years of age. Casey (Skylar Astin) is the responsible one, Miller (Miles Teller) is the troublemaker and Jeff (Justin Chon) is the wild card birthday boy. When the trio is blatantly told by Jeff’s demanding dad that no partying will be allowed (Jeff has a med school interview the next day), they do what kids in their clueless position would do. They do the opposite.

The film bathes in cultural stereotypes and lowbrow humor but never finds a comfortable rhythm to make it all gel together. It’s all shock value without a release and that’s a shame since last year’s raunchy Project X tackled the same party genre to much greater effect. Both movies serve as empty calorie entertainment but where Project X endearingly embraced its crude nature, here it feels alienating.

Something else that both films share is actor Miles Teller. He is the saving grace of 21 and Over and after witnessing his star-making turn in this year’s Sundance hit The Spectacular Now it’s no surprise he can carry the most lifeless material and turn it into something halfway decent.

Grade: C

Rated: R (for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, some graphic nudity, drugs and drinking)

21 and Over opens in theaters on March 1, 2013.