In the same year that audiences were treated to Booksmart, its rowdy younger brother wants in on the fun. Good Boys, produced by Seth Rogen, attempts to be both a coming-of-age feature and a comedy flick, relying on the novelty of seeing its young stars do and say everything pre-teens shouldn't be doing or saying. Can such a premise sustain 89 minutes or will audiences send it to the naughty step?
When Max (Jacob Tremblay), Lucas (Keith L. Williams) and Thor (Brady Noon) prepare for sixth grade, the three's friendship will be tested by the perils of growing up and their own personal dilemmas and challenges. Directed by Gene Stupnitsky, Good Boys hopes to provide the end-of-summer box office with a jolt of crudeness.
While Good Boys pushes its 'all swearing, all nasty' novelty a little too frequently to be truly effective, this well-meaning and spirited coming-of-age comedy is made with a real heart and soul that breathes fresh air (and at least some originality) into our cinematic landscape. Cut from the same cloth as more than a handful of rude comedies, Good Boys still manages to capture a life of its own.
Director Stupnitsky keeps the film relatively tight which secures a favourable outcome, as any longer and the ratio of hit-to-miss jokes would likely be jeopardised; even as it is, the excessive and repetitive profanity and behaviour start to wear thin but kept under an hour and a half, it's digestible. Co-written with Lee Eisenberg, an otherwise generic story is tinged with some bittersweet yet heartfelt musings on growing up, letting go and reconciliation, perhaps smarter than anyone expected to give the film credit for. Again, it's no Booksmart and is still a pretty standard comedy at its core, but these additional considerations elevate it considerably.
Good Boys' life and soul is its younger cast, who engage with the material fantastically and bring both humour and emotion to a genre flick that really needed it to stand out. Jacob Tremblay is the most established young talent and continues to define himself as a star of tomorrow, shouldering some of the more emotionally-demanding scenes with conviction. Likewise, Brady Noon provides a performance packed with personality. But the star of the show is undoubtedly Keith L. Williams: a comedic revelation who seldom puts a foot wrong. Williams captures the affable Lucas' naivety superbly, with impeccable comic timing and an overall likeability that renders him so consistently compelling and frequently hilarious. Surprisingly, the adult cast are not nearly as strong. Will Forte - another similarity Good Boys shares with Booksmart - is underused while few others manage to stand out.
Good Boys might not be a particularly remarkable coming-of-age film or memorable comedy but it's serviceably entertaining and boasts some great performances from its younger cast - including a career-beginning performance from Keith L. Williams. It has Seth Rogen's personality laced throughout as a result of his role as producer, and those who typically enjoy indulging in his crass brand of comedy will find themselves won over here; those that don't may still appreciate the added innocence of these young characters - which the film obviously looks upon with great affection - facing very adult situations. It won't change the face of comedy but it's a worthwhile comedic detour nevertheless.
6/10
Summary: It's the heart beneath Good Boys' crass, gross-out humour and unremarkable story that makes this comedy worthwhile - that and its terrific young cast, including the introduction of Keith L. Williams as the next big breakout star.
When Max (Jacob Tremblay), Lucas (Keith L. Williams) and Thor (Brady Noon) prepare for sixth grade, the three's friendship will be tested by the perils of growing up and their own personal dilemmas and challenges. Directed by Gene Stupnitsky, Good Boys hopes to provide the end-of-summer box office with a jolt of crudeness.
While Good Boys pushes its 'all swearing, all nasty' novelty a little too frequently to be truly effective, this well-meaning and spirited coming-of-age comedy is made with a real heart and soul that breathes fresh air (and at least some originality) into our cinematic landscape. Cut from the same cloth as more than a handful of rude comedies, Good Boys still manages to capture a life of its own.
Director Stupnitsky keeps the film relatively tight which secures a favourable outcome, as any longer and the ratio of hit-to-miss jokes would likely be jeopardised; even as it is, the excessive and repetitive profanity and behaviour start to wear thin but kept under an hour and a half, it's digestible. Co-written with Lee Eisenberg, an otherwise generic story is tinged with some bittersweet yet heartfelt musings on growing up, letting go and reconciliation, perhaps smarter than anyone expected to give the film credit for. Again, it's no Booksmart and is still a pretty standard comedy at its core, but these additional considerations elevate it considerably.
Good Boys' life and soul is its younger cast, who engage with the material fantastically and bring both humour and emotion to a genre flick that really needed it to stand out. Jacob Tremblay is the most established young talent and continues to define himself as a star of tomorrow, shouldering some of the more emotionally-demanding scenes with conviction. Likewise, Brady Noon provides a performance packed with personality. But the star of the show is undoubtedly Keith L. Williams: a comedic revelation who seldom puts a foot wrong. Williams captures the affable Lucas' naivety superbly, with impeccable comic timing and an overall likeability that renders him so consistently compelling and frequently hilarious. Surprisingly, the adult cast are not nearly as strong. Will Forte - another similarity Good Boys shares with Booksmart - is underused while few others manage to stand out.
Good Boys might not be a particularly remarkable coming-of-age film or memorable comedy but it's serviceably entertaining and boasts some great performances from its younger cast - including a career-beginning performance from Keith L. Williams. It has Seth Rogen's personality laced throughout as a result of his role as producer, and those who typically enjoy indulging in his crass brand of comedy will find themselves won over here; those that don't may still appreciate the added innocence of these young characters - which the film obviously looks upon with great affection - facing very adult situations. It won't change the face of comedy but it's a worthwhile comedic detour nevertheless.
6/10
Summary: It's the heart beneath Good Boys' crass, gross-out humour and unremarkable story that makes this comedy worthwhile - that and its terrific young cast, including the introduction of Keith L. Williams as the next big breakout star.