This Is the Year

So I wanted something easygoing that won't ruin my day or make me sad. For that purpose This Is the Year was the correct choice.

Yet it's also quite forgettable. You can watch it even more than once. How do I know? Somewhere after 20 minutes I realized that I knew the movie already. Usually I remember a movie after a scene or two.

The characters are likeable, the story somewhat a new take on an old story. There are more or less predictable ups and downs. There is some visible character development.

So why just 6 of 10 stars? The movie is not memorable because it tries too hard to make everybody happy. All the kids and young adults are likeable. The alcohol drinking, conflicts and problems are too timid to feel real.

The only "bad guy" is for some reason the older "spiritual" boyfriend who's only a caricature of spirituality ("positive vibes only"). That ruined it a bit for me. Why pick on being spiritual? They could have made him a bit more career-driven. That would be more likely and relatable.

For a road trip movie leading to a festival there was not enough "sex, drugs and rock and roll."

So watch this harmless coming of age movie with your preteen kids if you want. The insights are valuable but too Captain Obvious for an adult audience IMHO. Otherwise it's a guilty pleasure for a slow day or when you're sick.

Also kudos for the leads: they were both in their late twenties yet played teens and I didn't even notice until I looked it up here.