Genre: Comedy
Directed by: Darren Grodsky & Danny Jacobs
Starring: Adam Brody, Josh Lawson, Danny Jacobs
Written by: Darren Grodsky & Danny Jacobs

Synopsis: Four longtime friends set out on a journey throughout New York City attempting to regain control of their lives.

Darren Grodsky and Danny Jacobs know what being friends is all about. Not only did they write and direct Growing Up and Other Lies together, but the latter stars in the film. Joining Jacobs in the cast are Adam Bordy as Rocks, Wyatt Cenac as Gunderson, and Josh Lawson as Jake. The story centers on Jake getting together with his best pals and revisiting their past glory days while they hit every memorable spot in Manhattan. Jake is deciding to end his dreams of being an artist and moving back to Ohio. Together the guys experience and reminisce the highs and lows of their past.

Outside from the expected shenanigans the guys get themselves into which consist of stealing street signs, sharing beers at hole-in-the-wall spots, and randomly running into co-workers, it’s when they run into Jake’s ex-girlfriend Tabatha when drama kicks in. Each of the guys is dealing with an issue in their lives that is about the alter their future. Rocks is about to have a baby and he’s unsure if he’s fit to be a father. Billy (Jacobs) is debating if his job is holding him back, while Gunderson just seems to be floating around. Their relationship is tested throughout the movie. Tabatha and Rocks share an intimate moment that sends Jake into tailspin.

Grodsky and Jacobs have a good feel for simplicity and reality. They convey these aspects in the film by embodying the characters with simplicity. These main characters are guys in their late 20’s to early 30’s, or about the same age as Grodsky and Jacobs. The reality that the actors bring to their roles makes you wonder if this entire movie was improvised and contained little script dialogue. It feels like the journey the guys are partaking on is part of a documentary.

I really appreciated the bond and connection the guys had among each other. It just felt like a bond that a group of real life buddies might have. What makes this movie really enjoyable is the free flowing natural dialogue. These guys talk like guys. What I mean is that some of the stuff they say is silly, but things guys would say to each other while hanging out. The tone they talk to each other is also natural.

It’s fun to watch a group of friends go through ups and downs, relationship issues, and dealing with life changing events. It’s a story that most in that age group can relate to. Re-living those moments of the past when you were free and had no responsibilities, and then facing real adulthood with family and kids. The film does a nice job of showcasing those elements. It’s not a coming of age movie. That seems to be a cliche term used these days for films dealing with adulthood, it’s more of a day in the life. It’s about dealing with real issues, and not knowing where life will take you from day to day. The characters don’t give you a glimpse to their future, because they don’t actually know what it will consist of. That’s where Grodsky and Jacobs hit it on the head. We don’t know where life will take us, neither do the characters in the film. Not having all the answers isn’t a bad thing, it’s just life.

Growing Up and Other Lies - 7 out of 10!

Life is Unpredictable

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