Plot
A young, narcissistic entrepreneur crashes and burns on the eve of his company's big launch. With his entire life in total disarray, he leaves Manhattan to move in with his estranged ... See full summary »
Release Year: 2014
Rating: 5.3/10 (231 voted)
Critic's Score: 62/100
Director: Ross Katz
Stars: Nick Kroll, Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale
Storyline
A young, narcissistic entrepreneur crashes and burns on the eve of his company's big launch. With his entire life in total disarray, he leaves Manhattan to move in with his estranged pregnant sister, brother-in-law and 3-year-old nephew in the suburbs - only to become their nanny.
Writers: Jeff Cox, Liz Flahive
Cast: Nick Kroll -
Jake
Rose Byrne -
Justine
Bobby Cannavale -
Danny
Joel McHale -
Hudson
Caleb and Matthew Paddock -
Teddy
Caitlin FitzGerald -
Kat
Paula Garcés -
Blanca
Josh Charles -
Phil
Jane Krakowski -
Miss Jenn
Bobby Moynihan -
Paul
Mike Birbiglia -
Braden
Jason Mantzoukas -
David Bernon -
Chuck
Seth Barrish -
Doctor
Adam Butterfield -
Fun Party Goer
Taglines:
Some people just can't handle growing up
Country: USA
Language: English
Release Date: 24 April 2015
Filming Locations: New York, USA
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale are a real life couple. See more »
User Review
Author:
Rating: 5/10
Adult Beginners' plot: After becoming a pariah to just about everyone
he's connected with after a failed product launch, self-centred
entrepreneur Jake (played by stand-up comic Nick Kroll) returns to his
childhood home where his sister, Justine (played by Rose Byrne), and
brother-in-law, Danny (played by Bobby Cannavale), live with their
three-year-old son. As Jake licks his wounds and contemplates his next
step, he comes to appreciate the value of family and the virtue of
humility.
Kroll would seem to be an unlikely candidate to play a character who
rediscovers their humanity in a comedic film with touchy feely leanings
like Adult Beginners, considering the abrasive nature of his stand-up
act and his television roles on The League and Kroll Show. His snide
personality is intact initially, mind you, but that edge is gradually
dulled as Jake is welcomed into his sister's home and takes on the
nanny responsibilities for his nephew. The fish-out-of-water scenario
rarely yields impactful results, however, be they of the moving or
comedic variety, and the movie rarely goes anywhere you're not
expecting it to. Kroll acquits himself decently with the limited
material, as do Byrne and Cannavale, who are given their own marital
issues to wrestle with as a subplot. Peripheral characters played by
Jane Krakowski, Josh Charles, Paula Garces, and Joel McHale barely
register, although one scene with Saturday Night Live's Bobby Moynihan
playing a former classmates of Jake's delivers the movie's best laughs
and will ring true for anyone who's had one of those run-ins with
someone from your past that you wouldn't even want as a Facebook
friend.
Adult Beginners disappoints with its skimpy joke-to-laugh ratio and
ability to move the viewer with Jake's transformation, adding up to a
slight movie that's unlikely to stay with you for very long.
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