Dave Chernin, as he browses the digital menu at a Taco Bell Cantina in Chelsea, enthusiastically suggests, “You’ve got to go with a Cheesy Gordita Crunch.” He reassures his older brother and co-director, John Chernin, that he’s ordering one for him as well.
The Chernin brothers are in New York City to promote their new high school comedy, Incoming, which is a raucous nod to films like Superbad and American Pie that dominated the box office before superhero movies took over Hollywood. While they acknowledge there are more authentic Mexican dining options nearby, the choice of Taco Bell is a deliberate homage to a memorable scene in their R-rated movie.
This scene features two freshmen, played by Ramon Reed and Raphael Alejandro, who take an inebriated older classmate, portrayed by Loren Gray, on a chalupa adventure that ends in chaos. Despite the scene’s outrageous nature, the brothers opted for creative anonymity by using fictional names rather than directly showing Taco Bell, as Dave explains, “It was written as Taco Bell, but we couldn’t use the actual name. So we had to be inventive without showing the real brand.”
The inspiration for this scene came from a real-life event, though the names and locations were altered. Much of Incoming reflects the wild parties Dave and John experienced during their youth. They even questioned whether modern teens still go to parties, pondering whether to consult their friend’s teenage children but eventually decided against it.
After finding the Taco Bell too crowded, the brothers head to Madison Square Park with their burritos and Modelo Especials, humorously contemplating the potential excitement of getting arrested for carrying open containers. “It would make the article more interesting if we got arrested,” John quips.
The Chernin siblings, whose father is media mogul Peter Chernin, have a long history of collaboration, including writing for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and creating The Mick. Despite their experience, they struggled to secure studio backing for Incoming, as studios have become hesitant to invest in R-rated comedies. “We received feedback like ‘The script was hilarious, but it’s not really what we’re doing right now,’” Dave notes. John adds that concerns about drug use in the script were also a factor.
Working on It’s Always Sunny has taught the brothers how to balance irreverence with sensitivity. “We’re not afraid to cross those tricky waters,” Dave says, noting that the show’s success lies in its ability to poke fun without crossing into glorification.