Rent Big Time Adolescence (2019)

The best coming-of-age movie I have seen in years - Big Time Adolescence review by PV

I had no expectations from this film. I thought it's be the usual gross-out, crude, lewd American teen comedy.

Instead, what we have here is in effect a psychological dissection of male teenage life - unusual in this metoo age when all new movies focus on women, Happily, this squeezed in before that tedium took over.

The boy here has a father at home; many boys do not these days and that does often mean they seek father figures in older boys, the gang etc. Plenty of films about vthe black gang experience. The middle class white one ignored, but here it is.

I bet this is autobiographical from the director Jason Orley who also wrote the screenplay - it is SO authentic. Maybe more for men than women, BUt there are SO (too?) MANY metoo films now wallowing in the female experience, so watch them then!

I think Pete Davidson steals the show as the slacker. Great portrayal and some laugh-out loud lines.

Hollywood always loves actors who look very young - SO Michael J Fox and Le DiC ticked those boxes, short baby-faced actors who can play teen into their 20s. The new must-have teen face belongs to Griffin Gluck (from a privileged posh US family and one quarter Japanse which I say straight away when I first saw him aged 15 in WHY HIM?, a funny film too). he is very short and is 18 here but plays 16. he could play 14. It'll be interesting to see if he can progress as an actor beyond these sorts of roles.

This film has real depth. It is now just a teen gross-out crude lewd American Pie Friday Night picture. It perhaps reminds me most of DINER (1982).

We need more films like this about the male experience and this is a common one, esp for boys who have no fathers at home. Sadly, tthe way Hollywood and the Uk film industry has gone now, I doubt we shall get them - unless the BAME experience. I think all teenage boys should watch this.

The experience of an older boy who controls and seems cool but is in fact a loser is very common indeed. Some boys do not survive such influence well. Maybe get led into drugs, crime, a waster lifestyle. Many escape by the skin of their teeth.

I loved this. A comedy and a tragedy of sorts. I'd delete the bit re the main character and Holly (no spoilers). But apart from that, perfect and with interesting music (put subtitles on to see the lyrics).

4.5 stars rounded up.