Good Boys: Film Review

Synopsis

Three sixth graders, Max (Jacob Tremblay), Lucas (Keith L. Williams), and Thor (Brady Noon), known as the Bean Bag Boys, go on a quest to replace Max's dad's drone before he returns home. On this journey, these kids have to do things that no kid should have to do (fight frat guys, lie to cops, figure out who molly is, etc.), but they learn that growing up is a necessary part of life.

Review

This film is hilarious throughout. However, not every joke lands. In fact, at my screening, there was one joke towards the end that's lack of laughter was funnier to me than the joke itself. The trailers actually include some of the funniest jokes in the movie (including the end gag). It’s the same jokes over and over again (kids cursing, not understanding sex, etc.), but it helps that the movie is less than ninety minutes. Ninety minutes is the perfect runtime for this film. Any longer and I would have been taken out of it and felt inundated with raunch. However, the situations that these kids are put into are so outrageous that it is kept fresh enough. The acting is kind of wonky in parts (because child actors) but the actors have great comedic timing. Also, Jacob Tremblay is an experienced actor, so he was the least problematic. The most problematic was actually Keith L. Williams. However, quite contradictorily, the standout was Keith L. Williams. I laughed at just about everything he said, even though he might not have said it well. All three leads were (for child actors) great in their roles and I hope that they prosper in their careers. This film actually turns into an emotionally resonant story about friendship and growing up. I was pleasantly surprised. I’m glad that it had something else to offer because 90 minutes of sex jokes might as well be an Amy Schumer comedy special (still funny, but pointlessly raunchy). This film is a delight and real fun to watch, especially with a large audience.