Good Kids (I) (2016) User Reviews (21)

Who ordered a 2016 film with 1960s values...?

[A_Different_Drummer · 5/10 · 25 July 2016]

Writer/Director Chris McCoy was born in 1981 but, to all intents and purposes, he may as well have come from the 1960s, because, for all its pretense about edginess, the standards and values for this soggy teen coming-of-age story may as well have been plucked from a Doris Day/Rock Hudson romcom.

Now, ordinarily this is the part of the review where I reassure the reader that, in spite of one of the worst scripts in recent memory, there are loads of other good things here to keep viewers enthralled and entertained.

Sorry, that kind of happy ending only happens in movies, not in reviews of movies. Unlike fine wine, this one does not get better the more time you spend with it.

The cast tries hard with the material they are given but sadly that is not enough. (The single exception being Zoey Deutch, who was perhaps the only thing worth watching in Vampire Academy and once again offers the only character worth following in this outing. Deutch has that rare mix of innocence, wisdom and sassiness, bringing to mind an early Diane Keaton. With more edge.) It is also astonishing how a film that tries (unsuccessfully) to base itself on sex has virtually none. This can't be a censorship thing because the other day I was re-reviewing 1978's Animal House (great film!) and that 40 year old flick had more raunch and nudity. So, once again this has to be a director/writer thing -- see comments above on this topic.

The only one in the entire film who seems to be having more fun than Deutch is Ashley Judd playing a cougar who sets her sights on one of the young boys in the ensemble cast. You almost get the feeling that she waived her usual fee just to take the part.

Judd and Deutch generally have a great time here. The audience, not so much. If it is entertainment you want, pick up a copy of Ferris Bueller or Emma Stone's Easy A.

Fun stress release

[bmayfair74 · 7/10 · 1 November 2018]

I had a stressful day at the office, wanted to switch off and chuckle with no tension or drama. Good kids is the perfect movie for that. Don't expect too much, but if you just want to chuvkle and go along for a nice ride, enjoy

Flawed teen summer movie

[siderite · 7/10 · 5 July 2018]

The movie was reasonably fun. The actors played well, the ideas were interesting, if not original, and besides a glaring lack of tension, it was an OK movie. It's the old idea of kids who decide to party before they each leave for college, but in this case there were "the good kids" which stayed home and virgin in order to study to get to the good colleges, so they have a "summer of yes" in which to do all the things they regretted not doing in high school. Yet they are all well off and ridiculously good looking and people like them so there are no real obstacles to overcome in reaching their goals. So yes, it's a feel good movie, but it's way too easy for them to feel good, so the viewer has little opportunity to empathize.

Enjoyable Coming of Age Story of 4 Nerds

[danew13 · 6/10 · 19 January 2017]

Good Kids probably won't win any awards, but it's an entertaining way to avoid watching any number of mind numbing laugh track filled US TV sitcoms.

With the exception of the rising star cute little Zoey Deutch and the now veteran Ashley Judd, the film features a no name cast in a mildly funny coming of age tale concerning four childhood friends who are set to go off to various colleges and individually embark on one last summer fling.

Judd's rather brief scenes in this flick was a surprise. Either she had some spare time or starring roles are now few. No matter, she did her job well as a bored housewife who seduces the teenage tennis instructor.

A Graduate it isn't. For one thing the good kids here haven't yet gone to college. But the pacing and story holds together with nice acting from an ensemble cast until the expected happy ending.

a porky's for rich kids

[ksf-2 · 6/10 · 1 January 2022]

A group of kids who were never popular in high school decide to break out of their shells and go crazy over the summer before they head off to college. Of course, nic braun (plays andy) is 28, so its hard to picture him as a high school senior. Although he did get the role on succession soon after this. Andy claims to be a tennis teacher, but the rich, society women are actually paying him for sex. Good for him. But we seem to lose track of the other three for most of the film. Lion teaches martial arts, but seems to be trying every drug there is. Not sure what the journey or conflict is here... maybe just to stay out of jail until they head off to college. For high school kids, they don't seem to have any rules or parents. Just rich kids doing rich kid things. Hard to feel sympathy for them. The script needed a major tune-up. It's pretty much a starring role for braun.... the others seem to be along for the ride. Written and directed by chris mccoy.

A bunch of 'Good Kids' decide to make up for lost time by trying to have fun during their summer break.

[xxwhatsername · 7/10 · 27 September 2017]

This movie was fun to watch! I mostly watched it because of Zoey Deutch. All her movies are usually amazing and I was glad to see that this one is too. It's different from the usual teen movies and I think that's is really good. Despite the terrible Indian accent, I had a great time watching Good Kids.

I'm confused by the bunch of negative reviews here since I found the movie thoroughly enjoyable. It's definitely worth the watch!

The summer of YES!

[Reno-Rangan · 6/10 · 24 July 2017]

It was just like the British film 'Kids in Love' I'd seen prior to this. Explored only on a comedic side. Four friends who have been the ideal kids, after a few years later on one summer, before heading to the college, they have decided to accomplish everything they had missed in their life so far. So it's a time to blend in with what their kind do, but not as easy as it seems. Sometimes everything goes out of their proportion and some of them struggle at beginning itself. Overall, how their summer ends, in that, what they had gained and lost was told.

Written and directed by a newcomer. Really very good try. Good comedies and well performed actors. The four lead characters were unique. The story around them was nicely built. But not they all were equally balanced. Most of the focus was on Nicolas Braun and then Zoey. I kind of felt the scenes were intentionally done, but worth an attempt. Slightly predictable film, which was like any Hollywood teenage flick. At a time a few things stretch beyond our anticipation. Might not be the best teen flick, though worth a watch.

6/10

Not exactly sure what I just watched

[Brc123 · 4/10 · 14 May 2017]

This movie was kind of a mess from all standpoints. The plot was uninteresting and incoherent. Like, what was the conflict/initial incident even supposed to be? Oh no, their summer of partying has been kind of mediocre...this is so riveting. None of the party scenes were interesting either, "Woah I made a soufflé", "Wow I'm catching food in my mouth" "Oh my, watching someone skinny dipping from a kilo meter away, this sure is scandalous!". And wtf was that dump party at the end? Running around with megaphones and doing mattress fights, no high schoolers do this. Not much was even accomplished in the end. One guy whored himself out and got a yeast infection and was fired from his job. The girl had an unsuccessful relationship where she was cheated on. The karate dude did a bunch of drugs and got fired from his job. And the last guy got a handjob. They only went to like three parties. Barely anything even happened and they're all celebrating at the end as if they just threw Project X.

The characters were unlikable/dumb/underdeveloped. The main guy was insufferable, a hypocrite, and a moron. Talk about being controlling and jealous after he encouraged his female friend to get a boyfriend. Not to mention the irony in all of his criticisms of her relationship, has he ever heard of projection? And oh my god he actually spent over $2000 to fly some girl to his country when he has essentially no proof that she isn't a catfish and he has feelings for another girl...WAT! That literally makes no sense and the girl didn't really serve any purpose in the story, so I am not sure what the excuse is for that stupidity. Aren't these supposed to be the Harvard kids that are too smart for everyone? The karate guy was really annoying and I think was supposed to be the funny character, but that didn't seem to work out as he was just kinda cringey. The other two were more likable and less annoying, but of course they were pretty much the least developed, so there wasn't much to appreciate there. They're all really disruptive/obnoxious in public, and we see from the beginning that they're really recluse, yet they whine about not being invited places. Hmmm, I wonder why.

The humour...ummm was it even meant to be a comedy? I don't even think I cracked a smile at anything that happened. I get that humour is subjective but I seriously cannot think of one joke/funny moment in the whole movie. Oops.

Everyone in the movie acted stupidly unrealistic, I could not relate to any of them even though I am nearly the same age as most of them. That fight scene was one of the dumbest things I have every seen. The karate guy is somehow able to 1v6 a bunch of fully grown men who are twice his size. Like I get that he teaches tai chi or whatever but I am sorry this is not anime or Super Smash Bros, in real life he would get pummeled. And then the cops show up to see 6 unconscious men on the ground surrounded by a bunch of drunk teens and the extent to their investigation is just "They must've deserved it harharhar". Like the cops are just like "Want a ride home in a cop car?", uh okay never mind the guys that may or may not be dead on the ground or the hundred underage drinkers. What world do these people live in?

Was not terrible, but at the same time it kind of was. 4/10

Hits and misses

[thereisnothingleft · 6/10 · 21 October 2017]

"Good Kids" understands coming-of-age comedies and really nails some aspects of it, but the road there is too bumpy for it to be anything but a missed opportunity.

The cast of four friends all stand out in their own ways but don't feel manufactured or like too much of a trope. Nora's the closest, as the beautiful girl who everyone suddenly realizes is beautiful, but they navigate that well and Zoey Deutch being the best part of the film helps that case even more. They feel real, and that's really, really tough to do with a group of close friends at this age group.

Andy being kind of an asshole made him more endearing in a strange way, I guarantee you know someone as odd as Lion and Spice's character and story is very straightforward and normal, which was needed.

They nail the charm I love about these types of movies. There are little things like Nora making it weird when Andy admits he has feelings, Andy catching the food with his mouth and the online girl actually being real, very attractive and down with Andy are all nice touches.

There are two scenes in particular, though, that are terrific.

First, Andy's sit-down with Conch and the reveal that his friend group wasn't "the weirdo outcasts everyone thought were just that," but, rather, everyone thought they were fine and they were actually the ones separating themselves from the parties and everyone else at the school. That was excellent and a properly executed curveball that didn't change much, but gave the story some great perspective.

Second, the last scene in the movie. Andy showing up to college is perfection. I can't explain all of it, but the entire scene captures what it is like to show up to a university after a questionable high school experience. Andy looks out the window with excitement and curiosity. He sees his parents drive away and realizes he's going to miss them and this is really happening. Then, someone makes him feel comfortable (w/ a good callback to the food catching) and he realizes he's in a new space with new, different people that is going to produce the best years of his life. That doesn't pinpoint the framework here, but god damn is it great.

And that gave me a very strong bittersweet feeling once the credits rolled. Nothing in this movie hits from a plot perspective. Andy is a virgin outcast in the beginning of the movie who immediately has a smokeshow throw herself at him, gets to have sex with a bunch of hot moms for money and then has his gorgeous, fascinating best friend fall for him before he goes off to college. Nothing interesting happens outside of Andy's story, and that's a shame, because his feels as fake as some parts of this movie feel real.

Unbelievably bad script

[egon_krentz · 2/10 · 1 October 2019]

The movie looks well made, the actors are decent enough but the storyline and dialogs are so bad that sometimes I wondered if the whole thing was a persiflage. Alas, it isn't.

I Loved "Good Kids"

[jtungsten16 · 10/10 · 7 November 2016]

I really loved "Good Kids" the movie from start to finish was pure entertainment! I throughly enjoyed the actors and really felt a connection to them. This is Director Chris McCoys first film and I have to say, he did a great job! He executed the story beat after beat and another thing I enjoyed about Good Kids was the beautiful scenery of Boston. The only thing that I found wrong with the movie was, I think it needed some slap stick comedy. This movie lacked comedy, but was entertaining enough to keep me peeled to the screen, so that's a good thing. I really liked the music and Nicholas Braun is a class act of an actor! Love, Love, Love him!

You are not gonna remember watching this

[said-buet10 · 4/10 · 28 July 2017]

As soon as you are finished watching this you are gonna start to forget everything about it. This movie will have no impact on a viewer. The story is mundane. Most of the times the jokes were not funny. The acting were amateurish more than often. The direction is not at all commendable.

I don't hate this movie but I'm not impressed either. This falls into the category of movies which doesn't have massive screw ups but also doesn't have something significant to show. I would recommend skipping this one.

Not worth the time.

[kibuika · 3/10 · 29 October 2016]

The film is, for all intents and purposes, watchable.

This is where you ask, "Then why did you give it a 3 out of 10 and say it's not worth my time?" To which I reply, that is the truth.

The film is something that you can watch to pass the time but honestly even then it's not really worth your time.

My main complaint against this film would be the scripting and directing. The two give no build up or growth to the story they are trying to tell. It feels like scenes just slapped together to get to the end of the story with no emotion, plan or entertainment to it. The situations themselves do seem like they could have a decent pay off but cause there was no build up, it falls flat on it's uninspired face. And this is all the more frustrating as the idea (though not entirely unique) seems like it could be interesting.

The actors put up an 'okay' performance but are entirely underwhelmed by the poor writing of the script. Thus their characters are not fun to follow, they have pointless character arcs and even worse dialogue.

But my advice to you would be this, watch the introduction of the film as we are introduced to the characters and their world, that essentially is the tone of the whole movie and if you're like me, by the time the title card comes on, you'll know this movie is going to be a waste.

Waste of time

[tflwerchild · 2/10 · 7 July 2017]

Teen movies have always been a "guilty pleasure" that with time I've learned to ditch the guilty, and genuinely enjoy them full on. So, when I found this film, it seemed like a good watch. Original? Not really, but it didn't matter. Obviously, my expectations weren't set up high, but Jesus Christ, this movie failed to even reach a certain point of quality.

Alright, so, the goals they had set up for their "summer of yes" were fulfilled in the first half hour! Yes, conflicts ensued, but they were terribly timed. Film makers are allowed to do as they please, seeing that film making is a form of art, but in order for that "art" to be good, you do have to follow some rules of your craft. I just didn't see any of them being executed in this movie. The cinematography and screenplay were alright, but compared to other young adult films of the same year, it falls short.

To me, the only redeemable thing were the characters. Nora, Lion, Spice, and Conch (yes, Conch) were fun to watch and seemed like cool people. Andy, on the other hand got a lot more screen time than he should have. He was not a nice person, and he was pretty selfish as well. Bad characteristics don't always make a bad character, but in this case, that doesn't apply. Moreover, the relationships that formed in the end were so artificial, and I want to say predictable, but I honestly didn't think they would dive straight into cliché dreamland, so I was a bit taken aback.

And what kind of teen movie doesn't have a cool soundtrack?

2/10

Unexpected and fun teen flick

[nbery · 9/10 · 18 May 2019]

This is a fun movie for a casual Friday night. Great characters. Good story. Few surprises from the usual formula. Love these actors. Really fun ride!!!

Worse than average

[olikersh · 2/10 · 2 February 2017]

This movie treads the same ground as countless other teen summer comedies only it does it considerably worse. The characters manage to be both 2 dimensional and thoroughly unlikable, each scenes drifts into another with no real sense of purpose or momentum and so much of it is worthy of being cut you would struggle to make this into a reasonable short film. There is an underlying sense of bitterness from the writer/director across this film and everything in it just seems lazy. Most of the actors are fine with the very little they are given but don't be surprised if you find yourself 20 minutes into this film feeling like its been more than an hour. If somebody spent money on this, they've wasted it.

promising premise undelivered

[SnoopyStyle · 5/10 · 18 April 2017]

Nora (Zoey Deutch), Andy (Nicholas Braun), Lion (Mateo Arias), and Spice (Israel Broussard) are best friends since childhood. They are unflinchingly good kids in the poor side of the resort town and headed for good colleges. They refused to party or do anything bad. Lion teaches martial arts to little kids. One of his students invites him to her birthday party on the rich side of town where they've never been. The group of townie friends decide to go partying and do all the bad things that they missed.

This is a promising premise but newcomer Chris McCoy is unable to deliver on the hard-partying fun. The premise is built to be an one-crazy-night movie. Instead, it's all stretched out and it rambles around. There are some rom-com ideas but they're slapped together haphazardly. Although, it does lead to a surprisingly great friendzone conversation. The characters and actors are perfectly nice. Braun has his great lanky awkwardness. Zoey Deutch could do more awkwardness to help her character. The other two have less to do. They're all nice but this is nothing special or anything that funny.

Good Kids = Bad movie

[sofiane1044 · 1/10 · 30 December 2017]

It's an hour and a half of my life I'll never get back. Poor story + poor plot + poor charachters. All in all, it's just a way to waste your time.

Pretty fun movie like they don't make them anymore.

[destroyerwod · 8/10 · 17 January 2023]

I am a sucker for these raunchy teen comedies. Sadly in today's society they don't make them anymore ever since we got "woke" and it has become somewhat unnacceptable to just have fun, vulgar and gross comedies. Nowaday everything has to be about society "values", diversity of all kinds and political correctness.

I taught i saw them all over the years but sometimes i stumble on one of those from the mid 2010s (2016-2017 being around the time they stopped making them) and it bring joy to my heart.

Maybe this is why my note is a bit higher than it should be, but lets say this movie is a solid 7.5 out of 10 easy so i bump it without any shame to 8.

It lean heavily on the American Pie concept when it comes to story. 4 kids who let go during one summer to have fun and experience what they didn't before.

Its not THE raunchiest movie i ever saw. For instance there is no explicit nudity wich is surprising despite the many sex scenes there was. But the alcohol, drug, parties and everything you would expect in these movies is there.

Overall its just a movie to have a fun time with while drinking some beer and enjoying the ride. Its not meant to be clever or tell a message.

I really hope they start making these again when the woke phase pass (i so hope it does). In the meantime if at least i can find a few more i never saw, ill be very happy.

Another alright teen film

[dar0417 · 5/10 · 13 February 2020]

Another alright teen film. The only issue most of the plot is very unrealistic and not that funny.

Complete miss

[annushehrahim · 1/10 · 12 March 2017]

I can see what this movie was trying to do - a bright, fun and feel-good smart movie about a group of "nerds" graduating high school, who want to make up for all the experiences they missed in high school before they go to their respective ivy league colleges. Unfortunately, instead you got a 20% there movie that made me cringe more than it made me laugh.

The characters were two dimensional, at best. It focused primarily on the least interesting character - in an attempt to give him some depth maybe? The two other guys, Lion and Spice, were completely overlooked - despite the fact that they both had a lot more potential than the main guy. As for the girl, her primarily role was that of a "woah she's actually hot!" nerd-girl-who-takes-her-glasses off. The plot was predictable, riddled with unrealistic and unnecessary moments, the dialogue didn't do anything. Most scenes were either cut too short for anything to be developed, or developed so far that it wasn't even satirical or funny; it was just overkill.

"Good kids" treads on the coming-of-age, feel-good youth high school movie - only without any nuance, any likable characters, any ability to resonate with an audience.