‘Griffin In Summer’ Movie Review: Theater Kid Coming-Of-Ager Is A Winner
Photo from Vertical
From Jeremy Kibler
Summer vacation can be the pinnacle in a teenager’s life, a time to do anything you want where time barely exists. If you are 14-year-old Griffin Nafly (newcomer Everett Blunck), however, there’s work to do if you want your art to be “Equity level.” The feature debut of writer-director Nicholas Colia, Griffin in Summer has its work cut for itself by making us follow a tyrannical young character who could have been more insufferable than endearing. It’s very Todd Solondz at first, but Colia has affection for the titular Griffin (as well as all of his characters) and his coming-of-age indie is as acerbically humored and quick-as-a-whip as it is sweet and tender.
Griffin is an intensely passionate and self-assured aspiring Broadway playwright who has no interest in doing what other 14-year-old boys and girls do. He has a plan this summer and he’s sticking to it: producing another one of his self-scribed plays and hosting rehearsals in his parents’ basement. This year, it’s the two-act “Regrets of Autumn” (“basically it’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf? meets American Beauty”). Of course, Griffin expects help from his four friends, including very patient best friend Kara (Abby Ryder Fortson), who will be directing it, but he runs a tight ship. Griffin avoids being a kid, until he meets Brad (Owen Teague), a neighbor’s standoffish twentysomething son whom Griffin’s exasperated mother (Melanie Lynskey) hires to do odd jobs around their house. At first, Brad’s loud music gets in the way of Griffin’s work day, until Griffin becomes smitten. When Kara goes out of town, Griffin goes on a tear, firing one of his friends and recasting Brad in the role. This will definitely be the summer that changes everything.
Griffin in Summer definitely follows a formula, but this is a sharply made version of that formula with modest means. It all comes down to the star of the show, Griffin. Griffin is a precocious child who takes himself and his craft very seriously, but Everett Blunck never plays it cutesy. He’s like Max Fischer (Wes Anderson’s Rushmore) in that way and the way in which he crushes on someone older than him. Blunck is a natural find, committed but never overplaying Griffin’s bossy demands and know-it-all ego; more importantly, he makes this diva likable enough and more emotionally layered in getting us to root for him.
It’s Griffin’s summer, but everyone in his orbit gets a chance to shine and feel fully drawn. With a Marlon Brando-y quality, Owen Teague brings a certain sex appeal and a wounded vulnerability; though Brad might seem like a directionless bad boy, he’s really a Bushwick performance artist with a whiskey problem. Melanie Lynskey is touching as Helen, Griffin’s overworked, over-drinking real estate agent mother who can’t be bothered with Griffin’s dramatics while her husband is out of town. Abby Ryder Fortson (who made a wonderful Margaret in Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.) is full of charm and loyalty as Griffin’s second-in-command, and Kathryn Newton makes what should be a thankless part, as Brad’s tacky and insecure hairdresser girlfriend Chloe, sweet and hard to resist.
The film doesn’t really go anywhere too unexpected. Griffin’s sexual awakening is handled delicately without going too far, even when Griffin’s jealousies around his crush make him look borderline-psychotic. It’s also never wacky but awkward in ways that feel true. Based on the loneliness he experiences at home, it’s no wonder Griffin has a one-track mind in writing “Regrets of Autumn.” There is a small missed opportunity in making more of an explicit connection between the deteriorating marriage in the play and the deteriorating marriage between Griffin’s parents, like perhaps giving Helen an opinion on what her son is creating for the town to see. Nevertheless, seeing the finished product on stage—and watching teenagers perform mature monologues about infidelity, alcoholism, and abortions while drinking out of wine glasses—is a hoot.
Much like Griffin with “Regrets of Autumn,” one can see Nicholas Colia has put his heart and soul into this little film. While the general story beats have been seen before in other coming-of-age films, Griffin in Summer still feels very personal with a specific voice and an unspoken wisdom. If Griffin had his druthers, we’d see him in Fall, Winter, and Spring, too.
Rating: 3.5/5
Griffin in Summer is currently in select theaters.
