Kicking and Screaming (1995)

After college graduation, Grover's girlfriend Jane tells him she's moving to Prague to study writing. Grover declines to accompany her, deciding instead to move in with several friends, all... See full summary »

Director:

Noah Baumbach

Writers:

Noah Baumbach (story), Bo Berkman (story) (as Oliver Berkman)

Stars:

Josh Hamilton, Eric Stoltz, Samuel Gould

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Josh Hamilton	...	Grover
Samuel Gould	...	Pete (as Sam Gould)
Catherine Kellner	...	Gail
Jonathan Baumbach	...	Professor
John Lehr	...	Louis
Olivia d'Abo	...	Jane
Peter Czernin	...	Lester
Carlos Jacott	...	Otis
Chris Eigeman	...	Max
Eric Stoltz	...	Chet
Eliza Roberts	...	Josselyn
Jason Wiles	...	Skippy
Parker Posey	...	Miami
Christopher Reed	...	Friedrich (as Chris Reed)
Noah Baumbach	...	Danny

Storyline

After college graduation, Grover's girlfriend Jane tells him she's moving to Prague to study writing. Grover declines to accompany her, deciding instead to move in with several friends, all of whom can't quite work up the inertia to escape their university's pull. Nobody wants to make any big decisions that would radically alter his life, yet none of them wants to end up like Chet, the professional student who tends bar and is in his tenth year of university studies.

---

Plot Keywords:

slacker | beer drinking | independent film | college | writing | 

---

Taglines:

Anxiety loves company.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language, and some sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 October 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Desmoi filias

Filming Locations:

Occidental College -1600 Campus Road, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$704,543

Company Credits

Production Co:

Trimark Pictures,Castleberg Productions,Sandollar Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Noah Baumbach at the Lincoln Center anniversary screening, there was another actor scheduled to play the lead role who dropped out at the last minute, prompting Tri-Mark to tell Baumnbach to "find a star" or they'd cancel the movie. He quickly faxed his good friend Eric Stolz, who was filming Rob Roy (1995) in Scotland, and got him to sign on to the movie even though there was no character written for him. They created the character of Chet together, doing a lot of improvisation, in particular the famous "book club" scene.

---

Goofs

At the airport, when Grover says, "Shit, I wish I hadn't seen that", his mark is clearly visible on the floor when he walks away.

---

Quotes

Max: Is that a pajama top?
Otis: No... Yes.

---

Connections

References King Kong (1976)

---

Soundtracks

Cecilia Ann
Written by Frosty Horton and Steve Hoffman
Performed by Pixies
Courtesy of 4AD/Elektra Entertainment
By arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Funny, resonant and worth checking out

This is simply the best "Big Chill" movie since, well, "The Big Chill." The cast is terrific; the writing is even better. I've seen Josh Hamilton in several other films, but somehow he never has caught my eye except in this role (interestingly monnikered Grover, by the by). What makes this film work above the usual rabble of 20-something angst films is that you genuinely understand, can relate to, and feel for the characters. And the bits of business that have nothing to do with the "main" storyline, Grover's, are every bit as amusing and resonant. Highlights: Eric Stoltz and Carlos Jacott's "book club." Chris Eigeman ducking the "cookie guy." Carlos Jacott trying to remember the last "Friday the 13th" film. Any scene involving Parker Posey. I think I've watched this film about 10 times in completion. The ending, I've watched about 30 times. It's that good. I don't think I've ever seen a more tender, memorable, perfect scene than the parting one between Hamilton and Olivia D'Abo, where she takes out her retainer, smiles shyly at him and then there's a fabulous music cue that leads us into...the unknown. Of course, we know the ending, because Jane and Grover's fate has basically been the subject of the whole film, but the way Baumbach ties all of this together is truly inspired. Grover's speech at the airline ticket counter may be the best monologue in the history of cinema. Am I gushing irrationally here? Perhaps a little. But this film needs to be seen and recognized as the little gem (that's often better than anything else in the same genre done by a major studio/director) that it is.