Francis Ford Coppola’s granddaughter Gia is the latest Coppola to grab a camera and make her directorial debut with Palo Alto (2013). Adapted from a book of short stories written by James Franco, the indie drama follows April (Emma Roberts), a shy, sensitive teenage attending high school in the titular California town. Known as the class virgin, April begins to quickly make waves when she unexpectedly becomes torn between an illicit flirtation with her soccer coach Mr. B. (Franco), and a seemingly unrequited crush on Teddy (Jack Kilmer), the introspective and artistic stoner who pals around with Fred (Nat Wolff), an unpredictable troublemaker who certainly doesn’t understand personal boundaries. While April treads the dangerous waters of an affair with Mr. B., she toys with Teddy, who is stuck doing community service for a DUI. Of course, Fred needs to get a piece of teenage tail, so he puts the moves on Emily (Zoe Levin), a sexually active chick who seeks love and attention through penis penetration. Our kind of girl! As the high school parties rage on, it’s only a matter of time before April and Teddy start to acknowledge their growing attraction, and once again, there’s Fred, causing chaos with his reckless behaviors. Unfortunately the nudity is nil in this independent flick. But sometimes the tease is better than the please, and Emma Watson shares multiple looks at her panty-clad body; Olivia Crocicchia flaunts some satisfying looks at her rocking body in a bikini; and Zoe Levin shows some midriff while doing some somersaulting in a skimpy outfit. The ladies of Palo Alto will have you California creamin’!
