Director: Gene Stupnitsky
Writer: Lee Eisenberg
Cast: Jacob Tremblay, Keith L. Williams, Brady Noon, Molly Gordon, Midori Francis, Lil Rel Howery, Will Forte, Izaac Wang, Josh Caras, Millie Davis, Chance Hurstfield, Enid-Raye Adams, Matt Ellis, Lina Renna.
Rating: R
Runtime: 90 Minutes
All Max wanted was to have his first kiss with the girl of his dreams. He called on his two best friends for help, only to end up in a chaotic caper instead. Together with the “Bean Bag Boys” must outwit two teenage ravers, recover dad’s broken drone, hide stolen drugs and learn to kiss all before the biggest party of the year. Who knew sixth grade was so complicated?
From the first trailer, it was very clear that this wasn’t going to be a basic coming of age story. Imagine “The Sandlot” but with much more swearing, sex, and drugs. More accurately, this film is like a “Superbad” prequel. The plot and young cast are eerily similar to the adult actors in the Judd Apatow classic. Brady Noon’s character Thor is modeled after Jonah Hill’s Seth, Superbad’s know nothing know it all. Throughout the film, Thor (Noon) spouts incorrect information with the intensity and confidence of a man twice his age. Noon is joined by Jacob Trembly who fans may remember but not recognize from 2017’s Wonder in which he plays the witty and charming “Auggie”. In this film, he is the quickly maturing “Max”, who has recently discovered girls in a big way. The opening scene finds him creating an avatar with insanely large breasts before being interrupted by his understanding Dad who wastes no time embarrassing the young man. The last of the “Bean Bag Boys is Keith L. Williams as Lucas. Lucas is taller than the others but the most sensitive of the group. Some may remember Williams from his role as Jasper in Fox’s “Last Man on Earth”. As an ensemble, these young actors did an amazing job of combining youthful hi-jinks with adult themes. Despite the course language and sexual subject matter the film is relatable and has an underlying theme of friendship. Though the actors are young the film isn’t all fart jokes and gross humor. Underneath all the swearing is a story about friends who are desperate to stay the same even their world changes.
Before any overprotective adults get the wrong idea, the young stars aren’t put in any overtly sexual situations or shown taking any drug. Instead, they spend the entire film in blissful ignorance hilariously sharing incorrect information about very adult topics. The closest they get to any controlled substance is failing to open a childproof vitamin bottle and chugging 5 sips of beer. In one of our favorite scenes, the young boys mistake a collection of sex toys for a weapons arsenal. The plot may be familiar but the delivery is fresh and absolutely hilarious from start to finish. We highly recommend this film for a good laugh, just keep the kids at home. This isn’t for them.
Good Boys hits theaters this Friday, August 16, 2019.