Kicking and Screaming (1995)

A bunch of guys hang around their college for months after graduation, continuing a life much like the one before graduation.

Director:

Noah Baumbach

Writers:

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

Stars:

Josh Hamilton, Eric Stoltz, Samuel Gould

2 nominations.

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.

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Plot Keywords:

female stockinged legs | pantyhose | slacker | beer drinking | independent film | 

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Taglines:

Anxiety loves company.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language, and some sexuality

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.

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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.

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Quotes

Chet: How do you make God laugh? Make a plan.

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Connections

References Dogfight (1991)

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Soundtracks

Braver, Newer, World
Written by Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Performed by Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment
By arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Cliché and Trite

I liked The Noah Baumbach's The Squid and the Whale but Kicking and Screaming is so inferior to that. It's obvious that this film is his first effort.

It is so cliché and slow moving that it is unbearable to watch. It is like the poor man's version of St. Elmo's Fire. I imagine Noah watched St. Elmo's Fire and tried to copy it scene by scene to create an updated version for the 1990's. For the most part, the acting is good and convincing.

Although I only paid a few bucks to rent it on Comcast I felt totally ripped off. The only good thing I can say is that it encouraged me (and probably many others) that they too can easily sell their tired,uninspired scripts as well!!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 October 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kicking and Screaming

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$19,497, 8 October 1995

Gross USA:

$718,490

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$718,490

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