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 | |
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 Poster | |
| 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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Release dates |
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Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
It was 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] It was released on August 18, 2023, by Variance Films and Universal Pictures Content Group.
Synopsis
editEric wanted to have a short trip back home, but as time passes, 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, make Eric and Rachel face the reality of the present divide between them.
Cast
edit- 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
- Christopher Denham as Scott
Release
editThe film had its world premiere on February 18, 2023. at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival. It was invited to Horizons section of 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it was screened on 30 June 2023.[3]
It was released on August 18, 2023.[4]
Reception
editOn the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 72% of 39 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.5/10. The website's consensus reads: "The Adults finds enough profundity in grief and strained sibling bonds to overcome an occasionally aimless story, with subtly rewarding results."[5] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 73 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[6]
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."[7] 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."[8] 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."[9]
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?"[10]
Accolades
edit| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin International Film Festival | 26 February 2023 | Golden Bear Plaque | The Adults | Nominated | [11] |
References
edit- ^ "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.
- ^ "57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival: Horizons". Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. June 30, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ DeVore, Britta (May 30, 2023). "Michael Cera Faces Familial Consequences in First 'The Adults' Trailer [Exclusive]". Collider. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ "The Adults". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ "The Adults". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 13, 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
edit- Official website
- The Adults at IMDb
- The Adults at Berlinale
- The Adults at Rotten Tomatoes