Please don't spend money on this.

Absolutely the worst movie.

A different way of telling a story

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Rating this film PG for "smoking" (it includes an adult cigarette smoker) is the biggest travesty here... There's nothing at all offensive in terms of strong language or sexual situations to warrant anything but a G-rating for this already-came- of-age film. A smaller travesty is that the film is obviously an older reworked script, updated with cell phones and gentrification and featuring athletic boys who avoid pools and implausibly keep their shirts on throughout (as is customary in America now to avoid accusations of child pornography - by contrast, the G-rated coming- of-age French film "My Father's Glory" from the 1990s has boys of a similar age in slo-mo full-frontal nudity). If lusty teen sexuality is what a viewer anticipates with a title like "Little Men," look elsewhere. That being said, the resulting movie is a sublimely watchable and brilliantly engaging story about gentrification and the intimate drama that urban renewal causes. Superb acting and a realistic premise should keep most viewers of serious cinema somewhat rapt and definitely impressed. Yet the finale may be something of a let-down to those who expect an intensive resolution instead of a climax that meanders to a halt.

The negatives: I have no idea what the themes of this story are, and the two or three that come to mind is depressingly cynical (friends come and go & trying hard/never giving up on your goals is bad ??). It is all over the place! Nothing said or seen has anything to do with anything else. The father, while having a very unique point of view - and probably reveals why his career is where it's at, gives the most random bad advice,.. twice. Also, had the father simply told it like it is, the plot would have been resolved in about 60 seconds. The shop owner seems to be living in her own universe or is even more intellectually-challenged than we are led to believe (which creates the tension for the entire "plot".) The positives: the acting is outstanding from every cast member!! Natural and believable. The actors take what little they are given and take it to another level that, frankly, the plot doesn't deserve. The performances are simply entertaining from start to finish. (There is one scene in particular between the aspiring actor and his acting coach that is absolutely phenomenal!) The cinematography is both beautiful and realistic at the same time. Overall, I really really wanted to like this movie, I truly did. And it is not bad, but it barely gleaned of potential and never really went anywhere with it (which I think was the point.) I'm all for realistic movies, but there needs to be a point if there is no (strong) plot. Thankfully the acting & cinematography were outstanding enough for this not to be a waste of time.

I feel like this film was kind of marketed as a comedy, and perhaps that's why the seriousness of the situation at the core of the film really surprised me. It's not that the film is a tragedy, but instead it takes an honest and very real look at these kinds of situations. It's a very carefully and deliberately paced film, and the director has a great handle of the film's tone and atmosphere and is able to really bring the dramatic beats of the story to life. The ensemble cast also seems to have a great handle on the material, never overplaying or underplaying the situation to become unbelievable or become a melodrama. I definitely recommend this and I think it really gives a fascinating portrayal of family and the bonds that exist and how real life can get in the middle of that.

This film is a joy. I'm a long way from age 13, but this film reminded me of the ups and downs of teenage relationships. Two boys, one shy, one feisty thrown together by circumstance. They form a strong bond just as their respective parents grow apart. The boys don't have the emotional experience to understand the reasons why there is a rift between their respective parents. They resort to childish ploys to restore the status quo. Clearly this doesn't work. I won't give away the ending. But please go and see this film for the two outstanding performances from the two boys. Just breathtaking. And familiar. And a brilliant light touch from the director. I just want to see it again.