If you’re like me, Pete Davidson is an acquired taste … and you haven’t acquired it yet. He’s kinda like if a young Adam Sandler were just a punk. Oh, Pete definitely has a sense of humor, and often a pretty good one. Yet, Pete Davidson is the “funny” guy a rebellious daughter brings home to stick it to her old man only to realize fourteen months, an abortion, and fifty hours of rehab later that the old man was right.
Here’s the thing: Pete knows this. It’s his trade. It’s his calling card. Hence, I actually have to give it up for Big Time Adolescence in which Pete Davidson plays completely to type as the boyfriend/role model all parents are terrified their impression able teen child will drag home. And he’s a nice guy. DAMMIT! I want to loathe Pete and his barely differentiated alter ego, Zeke. Now what am I gonna do?
The premise here is that Zeke used to date Kate, whom he was too old for. And when they went to public places, Kate’s younger brother Mo (Griffin Gluck) would tag along. Unlike most dating scenarios, neither Kate nor Zeke seemed to mind. I would have minded. I would have minded a lot. Zeke, however, never had a younger brother and Mo’s father is Duckie from Pretty in Pink (Jon Cryer), so maybe he was seeking an edgier companion.
Then Zeke and Kate break up, and Zeke claimed Mo in the fallout. And the impressionable Mo essentially becomes the mascot of Zeke and his substance-abusing homies. This culminates in Mo eventually becoming a dealer at underage high school parties. Mo is not a bad guy, nor a stupid guy, so you have to ask, “How do we get to the point where Mo is so enamored of bad boy Zeke that he takes to dealing drugs?” Was it just a matter of time? Is Zeke really that terrible an influence? Or, more likely, is Mo the kind of kid so desperately seeking approval that he will offer to deal drugs at high school parties? What do we root for in this scenario? And how did we the audience get to the point where we see that Mo has gone from A student to dealer, boozer and pothead, it’s almost entirely Zeke’s doing, and yet we *still* have a soft spot for Zeke? Zeke is a rare combination of pure hedonist yet caring individual; whatchagonnado? Zeke is the ultimate soft-sell villain.
And here I am thinking about Jon Cryer, father, who –given the option- would probably much rather his son followed around the 21st century high school version of Blane. Ain’t that a kick?
An otherwise meandering cross-section of a kid who can go either way, Big Time Adolescence attempts exactly one Big Time question: What is the most important attribute of a role model? Is it ethical behavior or is it loyalty/friendship? Or is it something else entirely? I was hoping the film would be a tad more humorous –given Pete Davidson- but I didn’t reckon feeling anything for the character Pete portrayed. The film is acceptable precisely because Zeke does care about Mo. He’s both Mo’s best friend, and Mo’s worst nightmare. I –quite seriously- recommend this film to parents of teenagers; While I don’t think Big Time Adolescence is going to win any awards or gain the Dazed and Confused fan devotion it’s hoping for, I think it’s a wonderful family discussion starter for: “What should you look for in a friend?” That’s a conversation every parent should have with their child at least once.
No parent wants to see their child crawl
Winding up a friend-challenged oddball
When it comes down to thugs
And junior dealing drugs
Maybe “Lonely” isn’t so bad after all
Rated R, 91 Minutes
Director: Jason Orley
Writer: Jason Orley
Genre: Did they remake Dazed and Confused?
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: The Pete Davidson fan club
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Horrified parents
