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Josh Hamilton, Olivia d'Abo, Carlos Jacott, Christopher Eigeman, Eric Stoltz ... see more see more... , Parker Posey , Jason Wiles , Elliott Gould , Cara Buono , Dean Cameron , David DeLuise , Chris Reed , Perrey Reeves , Marissa Ribisi , Richard Tacchino , Sal Viscuso , Solier Fagundez , Jonathan Baumback , Noah Baumbach , Peter Czernin , Sam Gould , Jason S. Kassin , Catherine Kellner , John Lehr , Eliza Roberts , Chris Eigeman , Jonathan Baumbach

Inspired by the advent of Seattle's grunge music sound and popular films such as Slacker (1991) and Singles (1992), the Generation X comedy-drama was born. Typified by characters in their early twenti... read more read more...es sharing an abundance of education, a lack of career direction, stunted romantic aspirations and an obsession with popular culture, one of the better examples of the genre was Kicking and Screaming. Josh Hamilton stars as Grover, a recent college graduate and aspiring writer depressed over the departure of his girlfriend Jane (Olivia d'Abo) for a fellowship in Prague. Josh's best friends are in a similar predicament. Skippy (Jason Wiles) is a classic slacker couch potato still attending classes despite having graduated, while the philosophical Max (Chris Eigeman) and Otis (Carlos Jacott), a mechanical engineer, both remain unemployed. Tenth-year student Chet (Eric Stoltz), who works at a local bar and has still not finished his education, serves as a cautionary tale for the four unmotivated pals. Kicking and Screaming was the debut of writer and director Noah Baumbach and the first of several cinematic collaborations between him and actors Eigeman and Stoltz. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Flixster Users

75% liked it

8,110 ratings

Critics

53% liked it

34 critics

R, 1 hr. 36 min.

Directed by: Noah Baumbach

Release Date: October 6, 1995

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DVD Release Date: August 22, 2006

Stats: 765 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (765)

  • fb619846742
    March 23, 2012
    fb619846742
    A very opinionated by empty and aimless bore concerning recent college graduates struggling to find their place in the world, and how their lives change over the course of a few months. Noah Baumbach, one of the kings of awkward/anti-social world, has put together a below average... read more "comedy" that is not very funny, with characters that are not very likable, and with a plot that has no problem being about nothing. Unlike "The Squid and the Whale" which had a pretty good sense of humor despite taking itself a little too seriously, the biggest thing with this film is that it is just flat-out not funny or meaningful. I could not care less about the selfish, quirky for quirks sake characters that spouted dialogue that seemed from another planet, and as a result this movie lost me quickly. It is not terrible, it just is not very good.
  • fb1664868775
    December 2, 2011
    fb1664868775
    The very underrated hilarious debut from Noah Baumkbach has perhaps the most qoutable lines of any movie I've seen and features great performances from Christopher Eigeman, Carlos Jacott and a supporting role from Elliot Gould.
  • FrizzDrop
    September 24, 2011
    FrizzDrop
    For what's it worth, I truly believe in Gen X comedy-dramas. Even if you didn't fully enjoy this period in history, the quirky characters and realistic underlying problems of these films' central protagonists are shockingly familiar. Whether Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Pr... read moreufrock" or James Joyce's "The Dead" every art form has beleaguered to show us that our futures, more likely our destinies, are under our own control and not that of extenuating circumstances. We all fear failure in the future, but Baumbach also delves into the psyches of several different archetypes, including: the infinite student, wanting to learn but lacking direction, the genius who works blue collar because he fears success, and the slacker who still slacks though staying in school so he doesn't have to face life. This film is one big denial trip down a memory lane no one wants to know or live through. Each of the main character's relationships are these hypereducated rants to one another over who can be more of a hipster chic intellectual, who can obsess over the idiosyncrasies and affectations of an entire generation of hypochondriacs and windbags, quite frankly. The film makes fun of itself often, and points out the flaws of the college elite, when the entire culmination of our hard earned education is wasted on people who lack direction, who serve themselves with things, and people, and ideas they don't need, lying about without hope or purpose. Some may not revel in the true entertainment of eccentricities, but the droll humor and actual message are worth the short watch.
  • jennifxu
    July 9, 2009
    jennifxu
    I really dig the subtlety of this movie, and how the ending was so seamlessly incorporated. Although sometimes the lines didn't ring honest, I can identify these feelings of ambiguous futures very potently. Baumbach made a very earnest film, and I appreciate that.
  • puffchunk
    September 5, 2008
    puffchunk
    A lot of it was obnoxious, but it had spurts of good moments. Subtle humor is used well in places. A typical 2.5 star movie; see it or don't, it's not going to matter either way.
  • nuheart
    January 10, 2007
    nuheart
    "What I used to be able to pass off as just a bad summer, could now potentially turn into a bad life."
  • mjgildea
    October 25, 2006
    mjgildea
    Kind of dark, and not too engaging, but its good.
  • chihoe
    December 5, 2011
    chihoe
    In a film that revolves around a group of friends, all recent college graduates, "Kicking and Screaming" starts off in a way that reflects the uncertainty the characters face about their futures - confusing and unknowing in which direction it was heading in. It eventually falls i... read morento place with a nice pacing and snarky, quotable dialogue. Not much happens other than slacking, whining, and overanalyzing from the group, but it is the hilarious and insightful conversations that make it a decent first feature from Noah Baumbach.
  • fb20312798
    June 17, 2008
    fb20312798
    NOT WILL FERRELL SOCCER MOVIE! This film, by Noah Baumbach is about people that can never leave college and are experiencing a quarter life crisis as it were. I like how all the main characters all act like they know it all, but it's obvious they don't have a clue. It's definitel... read morey not as good as The Squid and the Whale, but for a first film it's rather well written. The "Oh . . . I've been to Prague" line and so many other lines in this film are hilarious in their utter pretension that these people all seem to have, but don't deserve.
  • urlnotfound
    November 3, 2010
    urlnotfound
    I've always known of Baumbach through Wes Anderson, watching their interviews and collaborations on Anderson's films. For the most part, he seemed like Anderson Lite, which in itself isn't a knock on him; it still holds him in a higher than most position. Further insight into him... read more may label him as an, I don't know, Kevin Smith Lite, this being the similar dialogue driven simplicity to which this film expresses.

    I've put this film off for awhile, just always forgetting about it, so come time to view, I must say; I was a little disappointed. Maybe I was expecting too much, too much hype all around. It wasn't that it was a bad film; I can see what he means when he says he was pretty basic with his first, not having his style nailed down. Maybe it's my fault for going back, adjusting to who he is now and then witnessing the lack thereof; like I should have started from the beginning and gone forward. But you could argue good films are interchangeable through time and all that.

    There were a lot of stale moments but I will admit that the story itself was greater than the vibe it gave. Clinging onto the words of the film for entertainment gave way for much appreciation, whenever something did happen on screen, such as all the sex that goes, erm, hand in hand with college. What Baumbach did wonderfully tho that I did like was his use of the still imagery dissolve with the flashback sequences. Those were very nice and were very pleasing, in combination with that bit of score. Those scenes alone saved the film from being lackluster, imo. You really do get a feel of one reflecting onto one's memories; as if viewing a completely life entirely, feeling a sense of somberness but also bittersweet happiness that goes along with remembrance.

    It was also fun seeing his little cameos.

    I just wish I watched it before I decided to go out and buy the Criterion...

View All Kicking and Screaming Reviews

Critic Reviews

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

First-time writer and director Noah Baumbach, 25, has a knack for acute observation and a spirited cast to animate every twisted nuance.

Kevin Thomas
February 13, 2001
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Baumbach ... pushes his rigorous stance to the extent that you begin to wonder why you're bothering to watch the aimless lives of these four unfold. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

What's on screen is just a little too familiar to be worth lauding. Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

In general, Baumbach's eye for generational detail is impeccable -- he knows what's on these kids' minds, and has found a language to express it. Full Review

Joe Baltake
January 1, 2000
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Loses its initial kick and verve and settles down into one long whine. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

I like people who talk interestingly, who have read books, who appreciate verbal wit, who look dubiously at establishment assumptions. Full Review

Mike Clark
January 1, 2000
Mike Clark, USA Today

Writer-director Noel Baumbach establishes an ear for commentary during his wry-guy movie's opening graduation party.

Gabe Leibowitz
February 28, 2010
Gabe Leibowitz, Film and Felt

For a debut, Noah Baumbach's Kicking and Screaming is an impressive effort, but it lacks the resonance or flexibility of his The Squid and the Whale, released ten years later. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
December 19, 2006
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Mixing the neurotic drive of Woody Allen with the urbane wit of Stillman, this derivative debut presents yet another take on guys who simply can't let go of college--and their adolescence. Full Review

Nick Schager
August 16, 2006
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

Charts the aimlessness and ennui of four insufferable, maturation-adverse college grads with relaxed realism. Full Review

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Kicking and Screaming Trivia

  • In Kicking and Screaming Will Ferrell thought he was from what club?  Answer »
  • In what movie did will ferrell go crazy about soccer and coffee.  Answer »
  • In what Noah Baumbach film did Eric Stoltz play "Chet" the permanent student/bartender along side costars Chris Eigeman and Parker Posey?   Answer »
  • What team was Phil Weston coaching in the movie "Kicking and Screaming"?  Answer »
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