Film Journal #11 - Noah Baumbach’s “Kicking and Screaming” (1995)
The directorial debut of writer/director Noah Baumbach tackles the issues of post-collegiate angst, a topic I am a little familiar with.
Baumbach, known for his collaborations with director Wes Anderson (“The Life Aquatic” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox”) as well as his solo features (“The Squid and the Whale” and “Greenberg”), has an ear for quick, witty dialogue. You can see this talent in “Kicking and Screaming,” however in an unrefined form. At times, the banter between the characters is almost too witty, thus interfering with my suspension of disbelief.
Still, the problem of figuring out what to do with one’s life following graduation is territory I have also treaded. And, to my surprise, the location used for the college in the movie is none other than my own alma mater: Occidental College. This just added an extra surreal element to my viewing experience. If you’ve dealt with the same issues, or are a fan of Baumbach, I recommended checking out “Kicking and Screaming.”
