The Adults (film)
The Adults is a 2023 American comedy drama film, written and directed by Dustin Guy Defa and starring Michael Cera, Hannah Gross, Sophia Lillis and Wavyy Jonez. The film follows Eric, who has a plan to make a trip back home as short as possible but he finds himself balancing the relationship with his two sisters and his addiction to a local poker game.[1]
| The Adults | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Dustin Guy Defa |
| Screenplay by | Dustin Guy Defa |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Tim Curtin |
| Edited by | Michael Taylor |
| Music by | Alex Weston |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Universal Pictures Content Group |
Release date |
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Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
It is nominated to compete for the Encounter Award at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on February 18, 2023.[2]
Synopsis
Eric wanted to have a short trip back home but as time passed it turns into a nostalgic stay as Eric catches up with his two sisters. His desire to prove himself to be the best poker player in town is also holding up his return. His sour relationship with his sister Rachel, and their little sister Maggie's attempts to revive the camaraderie they once shared, made Eric and Rachel face the reality of present divide between them.
Cast
- Michael Cera as Eric
- Hannah Gross as Rachel
- Sophia Lillis as Maggie
- Wavyy Jonez as Dennis
- Anoop Desai as Josh
- Kyra Tantao as Megan
- Kiah McKirnan as Amanda
- Simon Kim as Greg
- Lucas Papaelias as Bobby
- Tina Benko as Christina
Reception
On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes website, the film has an approval rating of 100% based on 6 reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10.[3] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 69 out of 100 based on 6 reviews, indicating "Generally Favorable Reviews".[4]
Rory O'Connor graded the film B+ for The Film Stage and wrote, "It’s coarse to the touch but The Adults is a tender film."[5] Steph Green reviewing for IndieWire graded the film B and wrote, "A raw, sensitive, and true look at a family in flux with too much love to give and no tools to whittle it into something useful."[6] Guy Lodge reviewing at Berlin Film Festival, for Variety wrote, "From... queasiness comes bristly tension, tautening and deepening what otherwise seems a low-key, low-stakes character study, and eventually a sweet, conciliatory sliver of hope too."[7]
Conversely, Damon Wise reviewing for Deadline Hollywood criticising the film wrote, "The Adults is a comedy-drama that doesn’t seem to deliver much of either, and that gray, in-between state just isn’t appealing anymore. Could it be that the cinema of awkwardness, or mumblecore in different clothes, has finally reached its sell-by date?"[8]
Accolades
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin International Film Festival | 26 February 2023 | Golden Bear Plaque | The Adults | Nominated | [9] |
References
- "The Adults". Savage Rose Films. December 16, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- Abbatescianni, Davide (January 23, 2022). "The Berlinale announces its Competition and Encounters titles, plus Ukraine- and Iran-focused solidarity initiatives". Cineuropa. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- "The Adults (Drama 2023)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- "The Adults". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
- O'Connor, Rory (February 20, 2023). "Berlinale Review: Dustin Guy Defa and Michael Cera Reunite in The Adults, a Sibling Drama of Raw Emotion". The Film Stage. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- Green, Steph (February 18, 2023). "'The Adults' Review: Michael Cera's Cringe-Out Sibling Drama Is Surprisingly Moving". IndieWire. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- Lodge, Guy (February 18, 2023). "'The Adults' Review: Michael Cera Leads a Sad, Subdued Study of Estranged Siblings Coming Together and Falling Apart". Variety. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- Wise, Damon (February 18, 2023). "Berlin review: Dustin Guy Defa's 'The Adults'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- Ramachandran, Naman; Vivarelli, Nick (January 23, 2023). "Berlin Film Festival Reveals Competition Lineup (Updating Live)". Variety. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
External links
- Official website
- The Adults at IMDb
- The Adults at Berlinale
- The Adults at Rotten Tomatoes