“Two weeks into sixth grade and I’m already a social piranha.”
Middle school is a tough time. The transition from child to teenager is confusing, strange and almost always awkward. While a multitude of movies have attempted to convey what this time is like, none have done so quite as successfully as producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s newest film, “Good Boys.”
The film has a premise that is all too familiar to anyone that has ever seen a movie set in high school or college: boy tries to impress girl. What makes “Good Boys” different, however, is the unique perspective of sixth graders in the 21st century.
“Good Boys” centers around Max, Thor and Lucas, three sixth-graders who call themselves the “Bean Bag Boys.” When Max is invited to a “kissing party,” he convinces Thor and Lucas to help him learn how to kiss so that he can impress his crush.
The best thing about the film is how genuine it feels. When characters speak, it feels like something a 12-year-old would actually say instead of something a 40-year-old man thinks a 12-year-old would say. Writer/director duo Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky wrote a fantastic screenplay that takes played out tropes and turns them on their head.
One thing that I was worried about before I watched “Good Boys” was the characters’ performances. It is notoriously difficult to find good child actors in Hollywood. Thankfully, my worries were all for naught as I was incredibly impressed by the film’s cast.
Jacob Tremblay, Brady Noon and Keith L. Williams were fantastic as the titular “Good Boys.” None of their line deliveries felt forced or overdramatic and they were genuinely hilarious. Williams was my favorite of the group and clearly has a bright future in comedy. It seemed as if none of the boys knew how to make themselves cry, however, as every dramatic scene in the film featured the most obvious fake tears I have ever seen in film.
Unlike many recent films, “Good Boys” features much more than gross out or insult humor. The film managed to make me laugh without insulting my intelligence, which seems to happen far too often in comedies.
My main issue with “Good Boys” was that the film felt over-edited. Many scenes were stuffed with unnecessary sound effects and cuts which really took me out of the movie and ruined a few comedic moments. The editing, along with sub-par cinematography, really hold back the film from being truly great.
At the end of the day, “Good Boys” is a comedy, and it certainly made me laugh. I rarely went two minutes without at least chuckling, with a few jokes making me laugh incredibly hard. Editing issues aside, this film is a sure-fire way to improve your day if you enjoy R-rated irreverent humor.
3.5/5 Stars
