Kicking And Screaming (1995) Movie Review

Cast & Crew

Director : Noah Baumbach

Producer : Joel Castleberg

Screenwriter : Noah Baumbach

Starring : Eric Stoltz, Olivia d'Abo, Chris Eigeman, Parker Posey, Josh Hamilton,

Opening night of the Austin Film Festival and Screenwriters' Conference brought me this little gem, a story of five guys who just got out of college, the three women that float amongst them, and the question that haunts them all, "What the hell am I going to do with my life?"

I wouldn't look to Kicking and Screaming for the answer. Rather, the movie is a hilarious example of what not to do when you graduate. The guys, Chet (Eric Stoltz), Grover (Josh Hamilton), Max (Chris Eigeman), Skippy (Jason Wiles), and the show-stealing Otis (Carlos Jacott), can't seem to give up the college life. They hang out at college bars, woo freshmen, and sneak back into classes. Otis can't even seem to get out of his pajamas.

Women are only half the problem. Jane (Olivia d'Abo) is Grover's lover, but she jets off for Prague after graduation, leaving Grover in despair. Miami (Parker Posey) is Skippy's trouble-prone, flighty girlfriend. And Kate (Cara Buono) is Max's latest attachment, a cafeteria worker he picks up while haggling over an extra potato.

The plot basically follows the series of perpetual indecisions that plague the friends, an ironic reality that most of us seem to face at some point in our lives. The so-called "touching" moments are unfortunately pretty drab, and the mushy flashbacks where Jane and Grover's fledgling romance is built up are real snoozers. The film is rightfully a study of misery. This happiness stuff just gets in the way.

The acting and direction by Noah Baumbach (who also wrote the script) are perfectly dead-on. Carlos Jacott should gain a lot of notice (and at least one of the various movie awards) for his outrageously droll part as Otis. If the script had avoided the over-sentimentality, the film would have been even better. And oddly, a real ending seems to be mysteriously lacking.

Kicking and Screaming pokes fun at the pretense and phoniness of virtually every college clique imaginable. If you're one of those sensitive types, you'll probably be offended at some point along the way. But hey, look on the bright side, at least you'll have it better than these guys.

More From Contactmusic.com

More From The Web

Write for us

Comments

Kicking And Screaming (1995) Rating

" Excellent "

Rating: R, 1995

Editors Recommendations

Anchorman 2 - Trailer

Ron Burgundy, Brian Fantana, Brick Tamland and Champ Kind have now hit the eighties and things are a little different...

Anchorman 2 Trailer

One Chapter Ends, Another Begins: Kim Kardashian Gave Birth, Now The Baby Needs a Name

Kim Kardashian’s pregnancy might be mercifully over, but if you thought there was nothing else to discus...

Kim Kardashian - One Chapter Ends, Another Begins: Kim Kardashian Gave Birth, Now The Baby Needs a Name

Daniel Radcliffe to be a Bond villain?

Daniel Radcliffe wants to be a Bond villain. The 23-year-old actor doesn't think he has the charm to play James Bond...

Daniel Radcliffe - Daniel Radcliffe to be a Bond villain?

Paris Jackson testifies in father's court case via video

Paris Jackson has testified in her father Michael Jackson's wrongful death lawsuit via video link...

Paris Jackson - Paris Jackson testifies in father's court case via video

Rihanna Hits Male Fan In The Face With Her Microphone At UK Gig [Video]

Amateur video footage showing Rihanna hitting an unknown fan in the face at her latest concert has gone viral...

Rihanna Hits Male Fan In The Face With Her Microphone At UK Gig [Video]

'Frozen' Sees Disney Doing What They Do Best In The Latest Fairytale Movie Adventure [Trailer and Pictures]

'Frozen' is the new Disney animation based on a much-loved tale that is due to hit the UK this winter...

'Frozen' Sees Disney Doing What They Do Best In The Latest Fairytale Movie Adventure [Trailer and Pictures]

Brad Pitt Takes Center-Stage As World War Z Premiere In New York [Pictures]

World War Z premiered in New York last night (the London premiere took place on 3rd June)...

Brad Pitt Takes Center-Stage As World War Z Premiere In New York [Pictures]

Steve Carell On Gru's Reform, The Minions And His Co-Star In 'Despicable Me 2' Interview

Steve Carell, who plays the lead character Gru in 'Despicable Me 2', talks about the movie in an interview...

Video - Steve Carell On Gru's Reform, The Minions And His Co-Star In 'Despicable Me 2' Interview


More recommendations

Eric Stoltz Newsletter

Subscribe to this news alert service to receive news and reviews on Eric Stoltz

Unsubscribe | Unsubscribe All

Films by Artist: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ