The Inbetweeners 2

‘The Inbetweeners 2’ is a movie is a continuation of the series (3 seasons) and a direct sequel to the first movie, which is based around a small group of 4 friends who are all around the age of 19-20. The film/series is often referenced as one of the best and most relatable representations of youth culture in the media. The reason the Inbetweeners is so relatable is because it accurately portrays experiences that almost every teenager/student can relate to; albeit a much more exaggerated version. The Inbetweeners 2 definitely links well to the Hebdige theory of youth culture, Hebdige described youth as fitting into two categories, trouble or fun. This movie portrays youth as much more fun than trouble (although there is occasionally examples of trouble, but it is more or less used to exaggerate the ‘fun’).

Youth culture films tend to place teenagers/young people into groups (similar to the Hebdige theory), this is because it makes the film a lot easier to make and more enjoyable to watch. Youth culture films are, more often than not, about ‘hoodie cinema’, gang culture and crime or they are about the awkward and funny experiences that teenagers might go through during their life (i.e. portraying relatable and entertaining experiences). This relates to the Giroux theory that the media portrays youth in an ‘empty category’ that adults simply do not understand and the adults that write the show/movie therefore just ‘plonk’ their own ideas of what youth culture is onto an empty space (the characters). This could perhaps be why youth are portrayed in a much more ‘blanket’ fashion rather than as individuals. This means that youths are portrayed as either criminals or as complete fools rather than as individuals with complex lifestyles and personalities. However, if the Inbetweeners had not been a much more exaggerated the movie would not have been as entertaining because the life of most students isn’t as ‘extreme’ as that of the Inbetweeners movie because most student’s lives are about going to school and having a part time job. Portraying youths in this way are almost a necessity when it comes to cinema as it is what is the most interesting to watch.