True Adolescents (2011)

75% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
43% of users liked it
(212 ratings)

Craig Johnson's poised and poignant first feature follows Sam (Mark Duplass), an, unbeknownst to him, washed-up rocker in the early stages of haggard. Jobless and apartment-less, he crashes with his aunt (a compassionate Melissa Leo) as a last resort and becomes reluctant camping-trip chaperone to… More Craig Johnson's poised and poignant first feature follows Sam (Mark Duplass), an, unbeknownst to him, washed-up rocker in the early stages of haggard. Jobless and apartment-less, he crashes with his aunt (a compassionate Melissa Leo) as a last resort and becomes reluctant camping-trip chaperone to her teenage son and a pal. That the three males are on par, maturity-wise, makes for engaging ensemble juvenilia. But in the stirring Pacific Northwest wilderness a surprising discovery turns dire -- and the distance from boy to man must be covered overnight. Duplass's ballsy and at times balls-out performance is a winner, particularly when Sam at long last takes stock of himself: it ain't pretty. -- (C) Official Site

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Craig Johnson
Written By: Craig Johnson
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 29, 2011 Limited
On DVD: Aug 30, 2011
Studio: New Video

Critic Reviews

Stephen Holden, New York Times
Time and again, "True Adolescents" resists the temptation to succumb to easy melodrama.
Ronnie Scheib, Variety
True Adolescents bears the dubious distinction of combining mumblecore's penchant for artistic slackers with Hollywood's celebration of immature slobs.
Mark Holcomb, Village Voice
A not-coming-of-age tale nestled in sardonic slacker humor, first-time writer-director Craig Johnson's True Adolescents effectively essays the costs of postponed adulthood.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
First-time director Craig Johnson hits the ball out of the park in this perceptive slacker-humored but bleak coming-of-age story.
Mike Scott, Times-Picayune
Once it hits its stride, it's oddly compelling stuff.
S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media
Unemployed wannabe rocker forced to grow up in so-so drama.
Matt Singer, IFC.com
There's something refreshing about True Adolescents. It feels like mumblecore's inherent immaturity finally coming of age.
Jesse Cataldo, Slant Magazine
Yet another movie about a blinkered man-child reaching the limits of his extended childhood, True Adolescents seems as lazy and mush-brained as its central character.
Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com
While True Adolescents may be typical of its genre, it's a solid, well-made entry, with a few details (like its treatment of sexual identity) that help it stand apart from the pack.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

♥˩ƳИИ &

Cast: Mark Duplass, Bret Loehr, Carr Thompson, Melissa Leo Director: Craig Johnson Summary: Bowing to pressure from his aunt, juvenile-minded, thirty-something, wanna-be rocker Sam agrees to take two teenagers camping. But when the trip goes awry, Sam must break out of his arrested… More
Cast: Mark Duplass, Bret Loehr, Carr Thompson, Melissa Leo Director: Craig Johnson Summary: Bowing to pressure from his aunt, juvenile-minded, thirty-something, wanna-be rocker Sam agrees to take two teenagers camping. But when the trip goes awry, Sam must break out of his arrested development and find a way to get them all back to safety. My Thoughts: "I thought the movie was funny and realistic. The main character, Sam, reminds me of my older brother. He lives wherever and is still very much stuck in his teen era, even though he's in his early forties. The movie doesn't have many players in it, but the actor's are great in this and the film is actually quite funny. Sam is a bit of a smartass who is stuck in his hipster ways all the way down to his skinny jeans. I am a true believer that men shouldn't wear those if they are past their twenties. Then you have Oliver, who is a bit of a jerk as well as his friend Jake, who seems to take a backseat to Oliver. They are both going through regular teenage stuff, dealing with mixed emotions and sexuallity. But on the camping trip these three embark on, Sam grows up and becomes an adult and the two jerky teenagers learn to accept themselves and not be so passive agressive. Not a bad movie and I loved how simple it was. Just seemed honest. I like simple honest films. Makes them human and relateable."