Growing Up and Other Lies

I lasted 5mins before I had to do the honorable thing, you'll see.

From the outset you have to deal with a premise of Adult middle aged men that want to go back to being teenagers. Except watching someone else other than yourself do it is cringe beyond all expectations.

There's the alpha, the geeky short sidekick, the token black dude and the relatable all-rounder.

There is no nostalgia, no dead bodies, no funny banter, what you get is spitting over a bridge onto oncoming cars by someone that's just sealed a high power merger on the same day.

There's 1 star for seeing some scenic Manhattan area codes and another for the miracle of this going from script to screen.

And the film has showed us that young males under 35 years of age, can be still awkwardly called "Man Child". it's sometimes quite difficult and troublesome for a young guy to deal with so many things at the same time. sometimes they don't even know how to deal with them. they have to use 'sense and sensibility' to distinguish what they really like, love and want to do for their whole lives after they have been tagged as "adults", yet deep down in their hearts, they are still so afraid of taking responsibility for themselves and those who around them.

This film actually told us that live in New York might not be THAT great. Lot of time, you're just getting by and getting older and older at the same time. There are things and places that you do want to get back or revisit, but once you made those possible, the feelings might not what you really wanted. Time changed everything, and your financial status would also twist your point of view to almost everything. But the most fragile and irrevocable thing is the relationship, once break up, it'll never feel the same, just like a shattered mirror, even you have found and retrieved every broken piece and put them together, the image would never look the same.

This is not a bad film, and it reminds me a film I enjoyed greatly, "Old Joy (2006)". It's about two old friends spent couple of days in Oregon's wildness. They were still good friends, but they knew that they had been growing apart, because everything changed when they grew older. If you enjoyed watching this one, you might like to check that one out, which in my opinion, is much better.

Completly waste of Time, you Will only see guys being like stupid teenagers and they think is funny because they are in their thirties.

Coy and crass, witty and maybe a little wise - Growing up and other lies, lies somewhere between a bromantic comedy and a wise-cracking road trip movie, only the road is simply a trek through Manhattan accompanied by a diverse cast who make you wonder why they aren't all house-hold names (perhaps Adam Brody is?) This movie has one of the best kisses you'll see on screen - Josh Lawson being effortlessly brilliant, the writer/directors Danny Jacobs (lead) and Darren Grodsky (supporting) who are hilarious and enviably talented, Wyatt Cenac (of Daily Show fame) as the kind of dick you want as your best friend and Adam Brody, who is incredibly charming and talented and should be considered for less obvious casting choices. Amber Tamblyn is…incredible as well as the girl you just can't forget - as she no doubt will be for her performance. Oh, and there's also my favorite Jake Bugg song as part of the soundtrack. See it in the theaters if you can! It's beautifully shot!

I was fortunate enough to catch the premiere screening last month followed by an insightful Q&A. Wonderfully scripted and directed by Danny Jacobs and Darren Grodsky. A tremendously fun and energetic love letter to Manhattan. Beautifully shot in an array of familiar and not so familiar locations, showing the appeal of both the rhythm and noise of the busy city streets as well as the haunting beauty found in forgotten dilapidation. Consistently funny and engrossing with a charming and skilled cast. Highlights include Danny Jacobs lovable performance contrasting the deadpan curmudgeon Wyatt Cenac. I'm not sure if it inspired me to explore Manhattan, or just made me feel like they took care of it for me. Loved it. Watch it!