Adult Beginners (2015) | Movie Review

One element in film that is simply not represented enough in cinematic relationships are siblings. How many times have we sat through endless retreads of the fallen man whose soul is resurrected by the woman he loves? Or the broken woman who finally finds her heart in the arms of her Prince Charming? “Adult Beginners” struck a nerve with this reviewer for telling that same ole story, but with a coat of fresh paint. This time, siblings save each other.

Nick Kroll stars as Jake, an up-and-coming businessman on the cusp of a major revelatory piece of tech. As it turns out, Jake forgot to cross all the T’s and in an instant – he loses everything. Broke, humiliated, and abandoned by his friends who invested heavily in his future, Jake returns to his hometown to spend time healing his emotional wounds in solace at his childhood home, now occupied by his sister, Justine (Rose Byrne), and her family.

Justine has her own issues. By outward appearances, she seems to be the adult in this dysfunctional relationship. Under the façade of normalcy, we find a woman struggling with her place in life. Her marriage to Danny (Bobby Cannavale) seems blissful and content, her job as a teacher shines like a dream, and her role as a pregnant mother paints a picture of tranquility. Yet, none of these turn out to be true.

Walking in to “Adult Beginners”, I was leery of yet another generic comedy attempting to jettison its star to big-screen fame by doing nothing more than committing his shtick to film. Kroll is an engaging comic actor, but the demonstration of heart that he conveys here completely took me by surprise. His resistance, and eventual warming up, to his nephew as Jake pathetically agrees to a job as his manny, is typically akin to comedy window-dressing. Instead of mining these moments for cheap laughs, Kroll steps into the role with a fully-realized performance of both comedy and compassion that will hopefully open up even stronger opportunities for the actor in the future. It turns out, Kroll is no one-trick-pony.

Rose Byrne, I absolutely adore. It is now on record. If you forced me to choose the most versatile actresses currently working in Hollywood, Byrne is sitting shotgun only to Mrs. Meryl Streep. Insane, you say? For my movie-going money, no other actress has managed to weave in-and-out of roles with the chameleon-like consistency that Byrne has. From comedy (Neighbors) to drama (Damages) to everything in-between (Bridesmaids, X-Men: First Class), she is that rare actress who can shine in any script she decides to pick up.

There is a moment in “Adult Beginners” where Justine does something that will terrify any rational parent with her absolutely reckless and selfish behavior. You will see it, and you will curse her. Minutes later, you will forgive her. That forgiveness is won not due to a brilliantly detailed explanation in the script, but because of the flawless performance Byrne gives, once again. Justine feels like someone tangible, a person we know, or perhaps even reminds us of ourselves. She is lost and unsure of her place in the world, yet is forced to live up to everything that everyone else expects of her. Not simply due to her own psyche, but because the world demands it.

All of that above to say this: Rose Byrne is a movie star. The world might not know her yet, but they will. Justine is just another peg in the board to take her where she belongs.

The film does take a few stumbles in the third act, as the script begins to lean a bit too heavily on contrivances and cliches. Thankfully, the relationship between Jake and Justine feels genuine enough at this point to hold any story collapse comfortably at bay.

Director Ross Katz’s “Adult Beginners” works because of two strong leads, but specifically because of the believability and compassion in their relationship. Both Jake and Justine have their issues from childhood, and both have felt they were successful in their own right up to this point. As the film unfolds, Jake and Justine learn what the audience knew from the first time Kroll and Byrne shared a frame: Their lives mean more when they share them with each other.

I have not seen many sibling comedy-dramas that managed to effectively capture the honesty of that kinship, the hilarious bond between brother and sister, but “Adult Beginners” comes pretty close to making reunions seem like a fantastic idea. Like your own family, this one is worth your time.

Aaron Peterson
The Hollywood Outsider