Big Boys *** (2023, Isaac Krasner, Dora Madison, David Johnson III, Taj Cross, Emily Deschanel) – Classic Movie Review 12,457

Corey Sherman’s 2023 Big Boys is an amusing, quirky, charming coming-of-age comedy film, with an appealing central turn by Isaac Krasner as a cheery, chubby teenage boy who falls for his cousin’s boyfriend on a camping trip.

Writer/ director Corey Sherman’s 2023 Big Boys is an amusing, quirky, charming coming-of-age comedy film, with an appealing central turn by Isaac Krasner as a cheery, chubby 14-year-old teenage boy called Jamie on a camping trip with his unpleasant older brother Will (Taj Cross) and his nice older female cousin Allie (Dora Madison), who brings along her even nicer adult boyfriend Dan (David Johnson III) for the ride.

The remarkably together and switched-on boy initially resents Dan’s intrusion in the long weekend camp outing at Lake Arrowhead, California. But he soon changes his mind and starts to find the handsome, manly man arousing, leading to… Well, what is it leading to?

Well, Jamie starts pairing up with the surprisingly sympathetic, kindly and wise Dan, and, despite Will’s attempts to sabotage and humiliate his younger brother, Jamie experiences over the weekend a joyful, revelatory sexual awakening and a happy coming-of-age. Dan is, probably, the older brother Jamie would have liked to have had.

Tip-toeing adroitly through what could have been a bit of a minefield, Big Boys doesn’t push too hard, and keeps comedic and even slightly sitcom, depending on Krasner’s undoubted charm, as well as on Johnson III’s and Dora Madison’s appeal too.

Avoiding potential trouble, instead it is quite gentle and sweet, and it has a good spirit and a warm heart. There is also Gus Bendinelli’s good photography, as well as fun music by score by Baths (aka Will Weisenfeld) to enjoy too. Overall, it is a very pleasing and entertaining little movie, a refreshing, liberating experience.

Big Boys shows at BFI Flare 2023.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,457

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Isaac Krasner and David Johnson III.