Coming of Age

This last summer was the summer of coming-of-age movies:  The Spectacular Now, The Kings of Summer, and The Way Way Back.  My sister, Anna, and I are both suckers for coming-of-age stories.  I’m not sure why.  Maybe it’s a generational thing?  Garden State came out between my senior year of high school and freshman year of college – prime time to feel all nostalgic and into indie music.  Maybe that’s why I’m a sucker for these types of stories.  It definitely isn’t because of The Catcher in the Rye.  I really don’t like that book, despite it being perhaps the definitive coming-of-age novel.  On the other hand, I love A Wrinkle in Time, and that’s all about a young girl figuring out life.

Anyway, if you aren’t into these types of stories, you might as well stop reading this post, because it’s basically a love letter to the coming-of-age drama.  Stories that force self-reflection, that make you pine for youth and innocence while lamenting its inevitable loss, that fill you with hope, even though you know it’s probably never going to work out for these kids the way they want it to.  But they’re going to try damnit, and so should you.

The Spectacular Now

I saw this movie at the end of the summer, which is honestly the best time to see this movie (not that you should wait for next summer if you haven’t seen it yet).  It’s a romantic coming-of-age story between Sutter (great name) and Amy, and while both characters grow through the movie, the story is primarily Sutter’s.  

As most critics agree, Miles Teller (Sutter) and Shailene Woodley (Amy), knock it out of the park.  The supporting cast is also pretty phenomenal with Bob Odenkirk (I seriously cannot get enough of him, and not to go on too long of tangent, his cameo in the last season of The Office makes watching all the episodes up to that point completely worth it), Jennifer Jason Leigh (after Existenz, I would follow her anywhere), Kyle Chandler (Coach Taylor if he’d completely fallen off the wagon), and Brie Larson (if you haven’t watched The United States of Tara, stop reading this post, go watch the series on Netflix, and come back when you’re done).

The movie is good and surprising.  It’s interesting to watch a coming-of-age story with a guy that is actually a little hard to get behind.  He’s charming and likable, but also simultaneously selfish and self-destructive.  The ending may seem full of hope, but based on Sutter’s actions up to that point, one wonders if he can really hold it together.  

The Kings of Summer

This story follows three friends as they plan to escape their parents by building their own home in the woods.  It’s a bromance coming-of-age story.  There is something very old school about this movie.  The idea of running away to the woods, to escape harsh reality.  It’s Into the Wild and Lord of the Flies and The Boxcar Children.  It’s both a romantic idea and a terrible one.

Nick Robinson (Joe) and Gabriel Basso (Patrick) are incredible, but the scene-stealer is Moises Arias (Biaggio) as he provides a huge amount of both the comedy and the heart.  This movie has another stellar supporting cast with Nick Offerman (offers a great amount of depth as Joe’s father), Megan Mullally (plays the absolute most hilarious helicopter parent of all time), and Alison Brie (she’s the straight man to Nick Offerman’s grumpy asshole character and she plays it perfectly).  There are also fantastic cameos by Kumail Nanjiani, Hannibel Buress, and Tony Hale.

I love how the film acts as a coming-of-age story for both Joe and his father.  It’s incredibly well done, and it ends cautiously hopeful.  Perhaps they will both figure out how to live well while still participating in society.  But there is the distinct possibility that they won’t, and Alison Brie’s character will be cursed to bringing boyfriends back to meet her miserable and grumpy brother and father.  At least Joe had one summer.

The Way Way Back

First things first, I love the title of this movie.  My siblings and I would call that third back seat of our car the “way way back.”  It’s immediately familiar and nostalgic.  The story follows Duncan as he adjusts to summering at a beach house with his mother’s boyfriend and his daughter.

Liam James (Duncan) is excellent, shy and awkward, just trying to get through the day.  But it’s the supporting cast that makes this movie.  Toni Collette (see my comment above re The United States of Tara), Steve Carrell (steps out of his usual likable average guy to be full on douchebag), Allison Janney (I am currently watching a Chuck Lorre sitcom because she’s in it, and you know what, she makes it totally worth the laugh track), Sam Rockwell (is he ever not awesome in a movie?), Maya Rudolph (under utilized but still completely great), and small parts for the writers, Jim Rash and Nat Faxon.  I’m glad these two guys won an Oscar, because it ought to mean we get more movies like this one.

Once again, this film is a coming-of-age story for both Duncan and his mother.  It’s also one for Sam Rockwell’s character as he is forced to face growing up just a little bit in order to protect not only Duncan but all of his employees at the water park.  This movie is probably the funniest of the three (at least intentionally), and it definitely ends with the most hope.

 

I guess basically what I’m saying is given that all of these movies are perfect summer films and fantastic coming-of-age stories, I plan on keeping them all in the cabin I will one day own.  And friends and family will stay there and say how sick they are of these same types of movies and how I should get some action films or something.  And it is unlikely they will find relief on my bookshelf, because except for The Catcher in the Rye, it will be filled with coming-of-age stories too.  And if they complain too much, I’ll tell them to go out in the woods and build their own cabin, cause damnit, that’s what a coming-of-age story is all about.

The Chickeneers

It’s been over a year since I posted on my blog, and this absurd video is what has led me to post again. I seriously cannot stop thinking about this cover. There have probably been funnier and more interesting television and media events in this last year that I’ve completely undermined by making this my first post back, but this video just makes me happy. And hey, we can all use a little happiness.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/472903#i0,p84,d1

 

 

Andre the Giant v. The Muppets

When I found out Jason Segel was hosting SNL, I was really hoping The Muppets would show up.  Obvious, yes, but you know that is what the people want.  The people got what they wanted, and it was great.  The Muppets got bitter about not being the hosts as well in the opening monologue, and Kermit did a “Really!?!” segment with Seth Meyers.  Fantastic.  But I was surprised to discover that my favorite sketch from the night did not involve The Muppets but a hilarious Andre the Giant impression by Jason Segel.  The title of this sketch alone made me laugh out loud.  The sketch is posted below.  Enjoy.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Andre The Giant Gets An Ice Cream, posted with vodpod

This might as well just be a blog about how much I love Parks and Rec.

These new webisodes from two weeks ago (oops, procrastination) are great. I could listen to April and Andy all day. Also, this is exactly how I would react if I saw a spider in my car.
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Road Trip Webisode, posted with vodpod

The Many Faces of Amy Poehler

Thanks to a blogger over at Splitsider, we now have further proof of Amy Poehler’s brilliance.

I wish the emoticons on my Droid would show up with Amy Poehler’s face after I punch them in instead of that little alien’s face.

Bosswear

When I was in 5th grade, I was a know-it-all.  Shocking I know.  But seriously, I was bossy and a bit of a brat.  Granted, even now I like to think that my bossy nature was endearing, but in all likelihood, it was just obnoxious.  My bossiness was well known, and one of my closest friends even bought me this t-shirt:

I believe that my bossy nature has toned down since 5th grade, but I was still very excited when I found out that Tina Fey had titled her first book Bossypants.  “It’s going to be like reading a book about my life,” I thought to myself, “if I was a highly successful forty-something comedian, writer, and TV star.”  And in some ways, I was right.  Tina Fey has maintained a very grounded sense of self that a lot of people can relate to, especially us bossy ones that know our bossiness is one-part determination to succeed and two-parts covering up the fear that everyone will see us for who we really are.

The book is funny and interesting and worth reading.  And maybe one day a friend will see a t-shirt with this picture on it and think it’s the perfect gift for me:

 

Li’l Sebastian

Parks and Recreation is maintaining its status as one of the greatest shows ever.  One of the greatest plot lines this season has been everyone’s obsession with a miniature horse named Li’l Sebastian.   And now you too can help find Li’l Sebastian:

http://www.nbc.com/parks-and-recreation/games/lil-sebastian-lost/

Procrastinate and enjoy!

If Neil Young Was the Fresh Prince

This is one of the best things I have ever seen.  Not only is Jimmy Fallon’s Neil Young impression dead on, but the song choice could not be better.  Bravo Late Night, bravo!

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The Great Zach Woods

One of the reasons that Ryan and I moved to New York was so that he could study at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.  The Sunday night ASSSSSCAT show quickly became one of our favorite activities.  For me, that was due in large part to regular player, Zach Woods.  He never disappointed, and while I was excited for him to get a part in The Office (as Sabre lackey Gabe) because he is so funny and deserves to be seen by a large audience, I was also disappointed that I would no longer be able to see him live.  However, the new webisode series, “The Podcast,” gives me some consolation.  Below is the first video, but there are more on The Office‘s official website.  Please enjoy the greatness that is Zach Woods.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Ep 101: The Podcast: Gabe’s Podcast, posted with vodpod

 

Swanson Pyramid of Greatness

If you’re not watching Parks and Recreation, you should be.  Here’s a sample as to why: