I’ve seen Kicking and Screaming at most a couple of times and even briefly reviewed it on March 12, 2011. I originally watched it for Parker Posey, whom I love. I decided to rewatch it now that I am consciously aware that Noah Baumbach directed Kicking and Screaming. Kicking and Screaming begins at the end of a romantic relationship and is about post-college grads adjusting to life after college interspersed with flashbacks about how one of the grads, played by Josh Hamilton, met the woman that he broke up with at the beginning of the film-from how they met until they became a happy couple. I suppose Blue Valentine should throw some money at Baumbach.
Kicking and Screaming benefits from the ensemble, but may lack the memorable punch of other Baumbach films because the main protagonist is not as memorable as the other characters played Eric Stoltz, the eternal student, Chris Eigeman, the analytical dramatic yet more practically grounded of the group, Carlos Jacott, the man child who refuses to leave the state or wear anything, but pajama tops, or even a brief appearance by the scene stealing John Lehr, who only made it as far as a local gas station. On second viewing, Cara Buono really stands out as the fearless high school local who dates Eigeman’s character. I can imagine that character as an adult, and she is going to be terrific. Comparatively even though the protagonists’ present struggles and his past triumphs frame the narrative, he is less memorable and compelling than everyone around him.
While Kicking and Screaming is an eminently enjoyable film that accurately chronicles how we spend our time with friends engaging in the exchange of seemingly trivial facts and moments, Kicking and Screaming a strong anchor to pull the threads together.