Parents' Guide to

Growing Up and Other Lies

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Clever setup, but mature friendship comedy is formulaic.

Movie NR 2015 90 minutes
Growing Up and Other Lies Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

Gregg H.
Gregg H. Adult
May 25, 2017
age 16+

Like a mediocre day that you've forgotten.

The movie is OK. Don't get me wrong, it has potential, but roughly only 30% of it it is worth anything. It's a great concept but about 20 minutes into the film the subway derails. One question: why would you skip from Hell's Kitchen directly to Gramercy Park? Time Square too cliché? Have an issue with Chelsea? It's a shame, I had so much hope in this film. If you took all the good parts that are scattered throughout, and edited them into a 20 minute film, it would be great. But alas…
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What's the Story?

Jake (Josh Lawson) is on the verge of leaving New York City, having been driven out by the vagaries of city living and the pressures of being an underemployed and unappreciated artist. Plus, he needs to care for a relative back home. To say goodbye to his beloved city, he and his three friends -- Rocks (Adam Brody), Billy (Danny Jacobs), and Gunderson (Wyatt Cenac) -- decide to walk from the top of Manhattan down to the bottom, making pit stops along the way to touch base on Jake's (and the group's) past.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

The walkabout premise is clever, especially in such a walkable, cinematic city as New York. So just for giving viewers a tour of some NYC gems (and not always the obvious ones -- shout out to Koronet Pizza in Morningside Heights!), GROWING UP AND OTHER LIES deserves some kudos. It's also a delight to hear the men talk; it's as if we're eavesdropping on real conversations that sometimes have no point or no closure.

But while the four leads share some rapport with each other (especially Brody and Jacobs), and their struggles are somewhat relatable (save for Lawson's failing artist bit, which smacks of cliche), the rest of the film doesn't impress. A pit-stop at the home of an ex-girlfriend (Amber Tamblyn) yields some interesting moments, but it also adds to the confusion: What is the movie saying? That life is confusing and no one knows how to be a grown-up? Say something we haven't heard before, why don't you?

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Growing Up and Other Lies' messages. What is it saying about friendship? Adulthood? Who do you think it's intended to appeal to most? How can you tell?

  • Talk about the four main characters' friendship: Is it a strong one? Antagonistic? A little of both? Are their relationships and interactions realistic? How does this movie add to the buddy-comedy canon?

  • The city of New York is just as much a character in this film as the people. What role does it play in the movie?

Movie Details

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