Remembering one’s childhood, there were many things that didn’t make a whole lot of sense. The present day life of the tweens in Good Boys play on the fact that there are even more mysteries to deal with in this day and age. Dealing with emerging hormones and the fairer sex is only the start.
Given the expanded canvas of the R rated film, Good Boys takes full advantage and its jokes are rude, crude and consistently funny. And in a pleasant departure from most films of this ilk, the jokes are mostly cruelty free. This allows the laughs to flow more freely.
Max (Jacob Tremblay), Lucas (Keith L. Williams) and Thor (Brady Noon) are three young friends just trying to fit in. None fit in with the cool kids but they are not complete outcasts either. The class system at their school isn’t a particularly harsh one and they are allowed to express some individuality without severe repercussions.
This gives their characters diversity and opens up more avenues to explore. Good Boys is a growing up story that succeeds with a lot of humour and more than a little warmth. It’s kind hearted, very funny and prodigiously naughty.
Rob Hudson
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