Adult Beginners

Courtesy of Radius-TWC, Burn Later Productions, Duplass Brothers Productions, and Through Films

Since leaving his beloved "Kroll Show" Nick Kroll has been striving to show critics and fans alike that he is more than just a character actor. Between his show, his other show "The League," and some indie faire in the past, Kroll is fast becoming a household name and one to watch. Kroll actually helped write the original story for this film, executive produced it, and stars, which is complemented with a stellar cast and some dark comedy.

 The boy who never grew up is a common trope, also explored in "Elizabethtown" and probably every indie film of the past ten years. Rose Byrne is the driving force for this film, as she balances between a soft sweetness and near internal combustion, in her performance as a woman who takes care of everyone. She is so lovable in this film, dejected in her life and marriage, and yet striving to better her students' lives, she is every one of us in crisis. The one thing I hated was the unrealistic pregnancy belly she sports, often several months missing the mark, but besides that, she is a strong character.

The film is well paced, making several months seem like minutes, and it's rare that it stagnates. Jake (Kroll) may never reach the level of empathy of his sister, but he does better himself throughout the film. His relationship with her husband (Cannavale) seems strange as he covers up his misdeeds, but that can be explained, as everyone realizes throughout this film that the other is human. Problems can be solved easier with compassion and resolve than fighting, a theme that is explored well.

On its own, this may not to the biggest indie film of this year, but it's one that I generally promote as being self-aware enough to stay lively, isn't trying to be quirky or snarky to its audience, and has a lot of heart.