Good Boys is Superbad for the next generation
While Good Boys absolutely nails the trials and tribulations of life as a 12-year-old, no 12-year-old will be able to see it in cinemas. But for those old enough, this delightfully disreputable comedy will keep the laughs coming on a consistent basis.
Leigh Paatsch
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This is a hard movie to assess for one paradoxical reason. In some eyes, it may completely cancel its need to exist, let alone all chance of box-office success.
While Good Boys absolutely nails the tween-age trials and tribulations of life as a 12-year-old, no 12-year-old will be able to see it in cinemas (at least those which play hardball on titles with an MA15+ rating).
Considering the very generous servings of salty language and blue humour that are the active ingredients of Good Boys, parents should issue a genuine sigh of relief that the movie remains out of the reach of any impressionable minds in their household.
However, there does remain a sizeable alternative target audience out there for Good Boys.
For anyone who used to be a 12-year-old — or is still occasionally prone to thinking like one — this delightfully disreputable comedy will keep the laughs coming on a consistent basis.
Max (Jacob Tremblay), Thor (Brady Noon) and Lucas (Keith L. Williams) are three sheltered sixth-graders who call themselves The Beanbag Boys.
Why? Because they like sitting in bean bags, of course.
In the space of one fateful day — the cool kids at school have approved their attendance at a “kissing party” to be held that evening — The Beanbag Boys quickly need to figure out some stuff. Make that a lot of stuff.
The trio’s crash course in catching up with the ways of the world — and the mysterious art of closing your eyes and smooching someone — is soon derailed by a comically complicated suite of misfortunes, every one of which could count them out from making it to the party.
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These include (in no particular order) an unwitting involvement in a neighbour’s drug deal, the misuse of a drone camera, the reluctant sale of a precious trading card, and a frightening attempt to cross six lines of speeding freeway traffic on foot.
The calculated combo of raunchy high-jinks and sweet-natured cluelessness that defines Good Boys runs in an appealing parallel to obvious inspirations such as Superbad and the recent Booksmart.
Like those movies, there is always an edge, but there is also a point.
GOOD BOYS (MA15+)
Director: Gene Stupnitsky (feature debut)
Starring: Jacob Tremblay, Keith L. Williams, Brady Noon, Molly Gordon, Midori Francis.
Rating : ***1/2
Age is no barrier … unless you are 12