Watch The Preppie Connection

In the early 1980s, a high school student named Tobias Hammel (Thomas Mann) is struggling to fit in with his peers at a prestigious private school in Connecticut. He's not rich like the other students, and he's not particularly athletic or social. But when he meets a Colombian exchange student named Alex Martinez (Guillermo Arribas), everything changes.

Alex introduces Tobias to the world of Colombian drug trafficking, showing him how easy it is to make a quick buck by smuggling cocaine into the United States. Tobias sees this as an opportunity to gain the acceptance and respect he's always wanted, and he dives headfirst into the dangerous world of drug trafficking.

Tobias recruits a group of his rich, entitled classmates to help him in his scheme. Together, they begin making trips to and from Colombia, bringing back large quantities of cocaine to sell to their classmates and other wealthy locals. They use their charm and intelligence to stay under the radar, carefully avoiding getting caught by both law enforcement and rival drug dealers.

As Tobias becomes more involved in the drug trade, he begins to change. He starts dressing more like his affluent classmates and dating a beautiful girl named Alexis (Lucy Fry). He becomes more arrogant and self-assured, convinced that he's finally found his place in the world.

But as the stakes get higher and the consequences more dire, Tobias begins to realize just how dangerous and destructive his actions have become. He struggles to reconcile his desire for acceptance with the reality of the harm he's causing to himself and those around him.

The Preppie Connection is based on a true story, and it does an excellent job of portraying the moral ambiguity of the situation. On one hand, Tobias and his friends are breaking the law and contributing to the destructive drug culture of the 1980s. On the other hand, they're just kids trying to fit in and find their place in the world.

The film works best when it focuses on the characters and their relationships. Thomas Mann gives a nuanced and sympathetic performance as Tobias, capturing both his desperation for acceptance and his growing sense of responsibility. Lucy Fry is excellent as Alexis, bringing depth and complexity to a character who could easily have been a shallow love interest.

Logan Huffman as the charismatic drug dealer Topher is also notable, providing a stark contrast to the privileged and entitled preppies. He's a haunting figure, simultaneously charming and dangerous, and he adds a layer of tension to the film's already fraught scenario.

The Preppie Connection has a strong sense of time and place, with impressive production design and cinematography that transport the audience back to the early 1980s. The film's soundtrack is also excellent, featuring a mix of classic rock and vintage hip-hop that perfectly captures the era.

Overall, The Preppie Connection is an engaging and thought-provoking film that explores the complexities of peer pressure, desperation, and the allure of quick riches. It's a must-watch for fans of true crime stories and coming-of-age dramas alike.

The Preppie Connection is a 2016 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1 and a MetaScore of 34.