"Big Time Adolescence" (2019 release; 90 min.) brings the story of Monroe, or "Mo". As the movie opens, Mo is daydreaming in class and then led away by the principal and a cop. We the go to "Six Years Earlier". ad we get to know 10 yr.old Mo, as he hangs out with his sister and her 17 yr.old boyfriend Zeke. When his sister breaks up with Zeke, Mo continues to hang out with Zeke, and they become close friends. We then turn back to today, when they are 16 and 23, respectively, Alas, Zeke does not always provide the best example for growing up... At this point we are less than 10 minutes into the movie but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you';; just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.
Couple of comments: this is the directing debut of writer-director Jason Orley. When we think of coming-of-age films, we typically think of films like the recent "Eighth Grade" or "Thirteen" or perhaps even "Palo Alto?. Let me tell you upfront that "Big Time Adolescence" is not that film. It's brought from a different perspective for one: a 16 yr. old whose parents inexplicably let their son hang out night after night with a college dropout who means well but is a classic slacker or loser when all s said and done. This is billed as a comedy, and yes there are a lot of funny moments in, but more of the chuckling kind than they are the laugh-out-loud kind. A good example is when Mo meets a girl in school that he likes, and Zeke gives him some "can't miss" dating advice. Watch the ensuing consequences! The movie features pretty much a no-names cast, except for Pete Davidson (from SNL) who plays Zeke. Beware: this movie is rated R for a reason, and there is lots of cursing and underage drinking and doping, so if that bothers you, better check out something else. In the end, the movie flew by in no time.
"Big Time Adolescence" premiered to immediate acclaim at last year's Sundance film festival (yes, over a year ago), and Hulu snapped it up and is now giving this a brief theatrical run. The movie opened this weekend at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati, and the Friday early evening screening where I saw this at was attended dismally: 2 people including myself. (This was the day that the coronavirus was declared a national emergency.) If you are interested in a slightly different coming-of-age movie than what you have seen in the past, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be it in the theater (if you can), on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this is the directing debut of writer-director Jason Orley. When we think of coming-of-age films, we typically think of films like the recent "Eighth Grade" or "Thirteen" or perhaps even "Palo Alto?. Let me tell you upfront that "Big Time Adolescence" is not that film. It's brought from a different perspective for one: a 16 yr. old whose parents inexplicably let their son hang out night after night with a college dropout who means well but is a classic slacker or loser when all s said and done. This is billed as a comedy, and yes there are a lot of funny moments in, but more of the chuckling kind than they are the laugh-out-loud kind. A good example is when Mo meets a girl in school that he likes, and Zeke gives him some "can't miss" dating advice. Watch the ensuing consequences! The movie features pretty much a no-names cast, except for Pete Davidson (from SNL) who plays Zeke. Beware: this movie is rated R for a reason, and there is lots of cursing and underage drinking and doping, so if that bothers you, better check out something else. In the end, the movie flew by in no time.
"Big Time Adolescence" premiered to immediate acclaim at last year's Sundance film festival (yes, over a year ago), and Hulu snapped it up and is now giving this a brief theatrical run. The movie opened this weekend at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati, and the Friday early evening screening where I saw this at was attended dismally: 2 people including myself. (This was the day that the coronavirus was declared a national emergency.) If you are interested in a slightly different coming-of-age movie than what you have seen in the past, I'd readily suggest you check this out, be it in the theater (if you can), on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.