A refreshingly funny rites of passage tale and first feature for Jordan Vogt-Roberts who takes a simple teenage male-bonding outing in the woods and gives it universal appeal. Anyone can remember a time when parents seemed just totally uncool and the desire to break free from their clutches was most natural and grown-up thing to do, especially if it involved leaving home for a camping expedition in a hidden location with a group of friends, in a bid to exert some authority and independence.
Here the friends are a motley threesome: Joe (Nick Robinson) and Patrick (Gabriel Basso) who are joined by hanger-on and all-round weirdo Biaggio (Moises Arias). What starts as a breezy summer experience soons turns wintry as the dynamic shifts dramatically between due to a unexpected turn of events and cracks starts appear not only in their relationship but also in the cabin they excitedly build together.
Chris Galletta’s hilarious script and Vogt Roberts’ skilful direction make this coming of age story about childhood, a winner for all ages. MT
