14 year old Griffin is THE theater kid with all the flaws and fabulousness. Each summer he writes and stages play in his parents basement with his friends. His latest magnum opus is Regrets of Autumn, is about the disintegrating marriage between philandering Walter and alcoholic Harriet, pushed to the breaking point by Walter’s flaunting of his tawdry mistress Scarlet. Meanwhile his parents marriage is also disintegrating. Since kids are growing up they are not as enthused about the play anymore and would rather also spend time on other summer activities, leaving Griffin to keep improving his play. He spends most of his time alone but when his mother hires Brad to do some chores around the house, it changes things. Initially Griffin finds him annoying, but his interest is further piqued when he learns Brad is a “performance artist” trying to save enough money to move back to Bushwick. Convinced Brad is a genius artist and the love of his life, Griffin pursues a one-sided friendship that quickly veers into unhealthy obsession. He hires Brad as lead for his play sidelining his friend and also sends a fake email to Brad's girlfriend so that they break up. When Brad suddenly moves back to New York, Griffin leaves hime and decides to go to New York himself and he does find Brad. But when Brad realizes of his obsession, he asks Griffin to go back. Really heartbroken about everything, he confides into his close friend and together they decide to focus al their energies on the play, which is a success and the film ends with a possibility of a boy his age showing some interest in him.
Griffin’s sexuality just exists mostly because his chosen pastime makes it a given and the fact that he has not acted on it. Eventually his gayness comes to the forefront, but there is rejection. The film just makes it a natural part of adolescence and even sows seeds of hope. Griffin’s simultaneous self-belief and immaturity collide catastrophically when he experiences a sexual awakening through Brad. Where his friends have started dating, Griffin does not yet have the emotional tools to channel his feelings in a positive direction, leading him to pour all of his energy into Brad, and to push away his friends and his mother. The kid playing Griffin is just amazing. He balances Griffin’s intensity and know-it-all attitude with unexpected moments of typical adolescent insecurity. It makes the character more endearing. His emotional state becomes dependent on his interactions with his new crush. Conversations with Brad become inspiration for his play, which Griffin makes less depressing by adding romantic scenes. The pair’s brief chats also reveal the depths of Brad’s quarter-life crisis. Actor playing Brad also suits his part as hunky, brooding and oblivious young adult. The kids acting in the play also successfully navigate the seemingly impossible challenge of performing believably in the scenes from Griffin’s play. These are kids portraying angst-ridden adults, and it’s hilarious, but it’s not at their expense. Overall, the film is a vital representations for anyone who used to be a grating theater kid with big dreams unaware of how his words and actions affect those around him and a coming-of-age comedy showcasing the awkwardness of teenage first love. Sure, there are no laugh out loud moments but the film has a charm to it. Hopefully Griffin can take the lessons he learns this summer to heart before he goes out into the real world, and also find love. (6/10)
Comments