There isn't one single likeable character in this film. I have to say that it made me feel like the old man complaining about "kids these days". It represented a demographic in the worst way. It's just like "Reality Bites". It's not a "coming of age" film if it's just as one-dimensional at the end as it was in the beginning.
There's no lesson here. There's no growth or change for any of the characters. The plot overall is generally uninteresting. And it's certainly not helped by the fact that as I said, every single character is wholly unlikable.
Now, I don't believe that every film needs a lesson. This isn't a "very special episode" of Blossom. But this film drifts completely aimlessly in lieu of having any lesson (or growth, or even just interesting dialog).
When you watch a film like "Kids", there is no lesson. But the film worked so well because it was implied heavily as to the dangers of what those characters were doing to themselves or others. Kids also dealt with some very heavy drama, and it stood on its own. That's not to say that the emotional problems that the characters in subUrbia deal with aren't real. But they certainly did a lousy job convincing me that I should care.
Likewise, take a look at "Clerks". Another film that takes place entirely in one day. Another film dealing with frustrated main characters trying to navigate through young adulthood. But Clerks gave us dynamic, likeable, and/or relatable characters. It did have a lesson as well, which I think this film could have certainly used. And overall, it was just much more interesting and engaging.
SubUrbia is just straight up shallow. To it's credit, I wouldn't say it's necessarily boring. And I do think it succeeded in representing the frustration of the characters. But the one-dimensional characters and generally aimless plot kill it for me.
It's not even that I'm a bitter, out of touch old man. I hated this film when I was 17, and I hate it now. In fact, I was younger than the characters in the film when I first saw it. And even at that age, I thought that they were insufferable. And I was *17,* I had a lot of growing up to do myself. But I certainly wanted to apologize to anyone who had to deal with my adolescent whining after I watched this steaming pile! Sure, the characters are relatable, but this film is obnoxious and crappy for the same reason that "Reality Bites" was. And I *never* understood how that one became acclaimed.
There's so many better films that represent youth disaffection, sexual frustration, feelings of inadequacy, and jealousy than this one does. Films that have real depth and good characters. You can certainly skip this one.
There's no lesson here. There's no growth or change for any of the characters. The plot overall is generally uninteresting. And it's certainly not helped by the fact that as I said, every single character is wholly unlikable.
Now, I don't believe that every film needs a lesson. This isn't a "very special episode" of Blossom. But this film drifts completely aimlessly in lieu of having any lesson (or growth, or even just interesting dialog).
When you watch a film like "Kids", there is no lesson. But the film worked so well because it was implied heavily as to the dangers of what those characters were doing to themselves or others. Kids also dealt with some very heavy drama, and it stood on its own. That's not to say that the emotional problems that the characters in subUrbia deal with aren't real. But they certainly did a lousy job convincing me that I should care.
Likewise, take a look at "Clerks". Another film that takes place entirely in one day. Another film dealing with frustrated main characters trying to navigate through young adulthood. But Clerks gave us dynamic, likeable, and/or relatable characters. It did have a lesson as well, which I think this film could have certainly used. And overall, it was just much more interesting and engaging.
SubUrbia is just straight up shallow. To it's credit, I wouldn't say it's necessarily boring. And I do think it succeeded in representing the frustration of the characters. But the one-dimensional characters and generally aimless plot kill it for me.
It's not even that I'm a bitter, out of touch old man. I hated this film when I was 17, and I hate it now. In fact, I was younger than the characters in the film when I first saw it. And even at that age, I thought that they were insufferable. And I was *17,* I had a lot of growing up to do myself. But I certainly wanted to apologize to anyone who had to deal with my adolescent whining after I watched this steaming pile! Sure, the characters are relatable, but this film is obnoxious and crappy for the same reason that "Reality Bites" was. And I *never* understood how that one became acclaimed.
There's so many better films that represent youth disaffection, sexual frustration, feelings of inadequacy, and jealousy than this one does. Films that have real depth and good characters. You can certainly skip this one.