It is a film that embodies a group of events, as it shows a group of girls and boys who grow up with a life full of error such as passion, sex, drugs and alcohol continuously. The movie deals with April, a shy girl, and deals with her soccer coach Mr. B and Teddy. On the other hand, Emily tries to provide a set of services for every boy to cross her path, including Teddy and his best friend, Farid. Over time, it appears that these young men and women face chaos everywhere.
It's accurate to say that "Palo Alto" is another movie by another Coppola about the lives of the rich, bored and disaffected, but that description sells the movie short.
The reality is that for many, [these] four years are marked by a more moderate, complicated set of things, and not the relentless bleakness displayed in [the] film.
That Coppola finds occasional grace and spirit here shows understanding and compassion. Her next assignment? Make a movie that's not about the troubles of the privileged and bored.
The story tends to meander but the kids' ups and downs are delicately observed and the performances, especially from Roberts, are never less than believable.
The drama is scaled to just the right size: kids get into trouble or inadvisable situations, but there are no major melodramatics. We see them in their natural habitat.
