Adult Beginners (DVD) Review
Genre: Comedy
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“Some people just can’t handle growing up.” In Adult Beginners, Nick Kroll stars as a man who seems to have it all. At the movie’s beginning, he is euphorically celebrating the upcoming launch of his company with cool friends, a great party, and seemingly the world at his feet. And then…everything comes crashing down on […]
“Some people just can’t handle growing up.”
In Adult Beginners, Nick Kroll stars as a man who seems to have it all. At the movie’s beginning, he is euphorically celebrating the upcoming launch of his company with cool friends, a great party, and seemingly the world at his feet. And then…everything comes crashing down on him. The company tanks on a minor detail, and just like that, it’s all gone. With no company, no money, and nowhere left to go, Jake sets off to lick his wounds at his sister’s house.
Unfortunately, said sister (Justine) had no idea Jake was coming. Not the most attentive brother/uncle, Jake hasn’t visited in over a year. Still, he expects his harried pregnant sister to drop everything and comfort him immediately. That isn’t a possibility for the busy working mom, but she does offer him a place to stay while he gets things under control. It’s Jake’s brother-in-law that comes up with the premise that will allow Jake to stay while saving them a chunk of change. He suggests they pull their three year old son out of daycare, and have Jake be his nanny. This sets off some obligatory “clueless guy who has no idea what to do with kids” scenes that, while they amuse, come off as a bit much at times (I’m looking at you, potty scene).
Through the many calls to his sister at work, and the conversations at night discussing the things that occurred throughout the day, you begin to realize that Adult Beginners is less about Jake getting back on his feet, and more about Jake and Justine rekindling their relationship. Though the two often fight, they also tease and talk, showing a pretty good representation of the average sibling relationship. As things get tougher for Justine, and Jake settles in to his life in the suburbs, their relationship deepens, getting at the heart of the film – family matters.
Adult Beginners is funny, poignant at times, and very relatable. It’s an interesting film that really pulls you into the story, making you want Jake to succeed even when he comes across as a bit of a baby. There are some over the top moments that don’t always seem to completely gel with the story, but for the most part it flows smoothly and keeps viewers engaged till the very end. Though there is some references to drug use (pretty much every scene with Joel McHale in it), for the most part it earns it’s “R” rating strictly from a liberal use of profanity.