Big Time Adolescence

Director: Jason Orley
Screenwriters: Jason Orley

Institute History

  • 2019 Sundance Film Festival

Description

It’s funny: humans have been growing up for a really long time, but somehow we still suck at it. Just look at sixteen-year-old Mo (Griffin Gluck). He’s bright enough and comes from a good family, yet his best friend is … Zeke (Pete Davidson). Yeah, that Zeke—the agressively unmotivated college dropout who used to date Mo’s older sister. Mo’s well-meaning dad (Jon Cryer) is less-than-thrilled by this state of affairs. His sister? Woof. So instead of spending his days readying himself for adulthood, young Mo is getting a very different sort of schooling. Zeke favors a nontraditional style with practicals in dealing, partying, and ghosting. Academia this ain’t.

Working from his own sharp script, first-time director Jason Orley has created an all-too-real look at what it’s like to be a teenager these days. He’s aided by his strong cast, especially Davidson, whose loopy, boisterous performance anchors the film. The result is a coming-of-age tale that’s as fresh as a trending topic but still familiar in all the right ways.


— J.K.

Screening Details

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