As a film critic who spent his formative years watching the likes of “Six Pack” and ‘Kidco”, I must confess that “Nutcrackers” tugs at my nostalgic heartstrings like a long-lost childhood memory. The Janson brothers, with their natural charm and sibling camaraderie, remind me of the mischievous troublemakers we all wished we had been back in the day.
As a movie reviewer, let me tell you that the Janson brothers – Homer, Ulysses, Atlas, and Arlo – are indeed delightful and well-mannered youngsters in real life, a testament to their upbringing no sane director would risk casting them otherwise. However, in the hands of director David Gordon Green for his unconventional Toronto Film Festival opener, “Nutcrackers”, these four boys transform into a nearly wild pack of orphans, surviving under the watchful eye of their stern uncle, Michael Maxwell (played by Ben Stiller). After tragically losing both parents in a car accident, they find themselves relying on Uncle Michael to protect them from the harsh reality of an orphanage.
A man who’s accustomed to city life and high-end footwear, Michael arrives at his late sister’s rural farmhouse in a yellow Porsche, only to find himself stepping into a fresh mound of animal waste. With Christmas fast approaching, Michael plans to spend a few days managing the estate affairs, including attempting to adopt the Kicklighter boys, before returning to Chicago to finalize a significant business deal.
“Tomorrow, when I wake up, will you still be here?” inquires Justice (Homer Janson, a boy who seems poised for an acting career). In contrast, his unkempt siblings, Junior (Ulysses) and twins Samuel (Atlas) and Simon (Arlo), are styled as hippie-like individuals with long hair. However, Homer stands out with his soulful brown eyes, dark lashes, and an endearing lost-puppy look. One might mistake him for Jacob Elordi’s younger brother. Interestingly, he shares the screen with his real brothers (all raised by one of Green’s longtime friends), making their antics all the more believable.
Justice questions his uncle about the validity of what mom mentioned, which is that he can’t love. If you think this is accurate or are eager to see Stiller’s character disprove Justice, then “Nutcrackers” could be a charming holiday treat for you. On the other hand, viewers with a more skeptical outlook might view this seemingly harmless family movie as something else: a personal project from Green, taking a break from reworking classic horror series like “Halloween” and “The Exorcist,” to pay homage to a genre he cherishes – one he refers to as “forgotten gems” such as “Six Pack” and “Kidco.”
How did movies about misbehaving teenagers, filled with profanity and defiance towards authority, disappear? That’s primarily due to Steven Spielberg. Amblin Entertainment productions such as “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial” and “The Goonies,” offered thrilling adventures for the young audience, but subtly taught them proper behavior. These depictions gradually replaced the rule-breaking antics seen in films like “Paper Moon” and “The Bad News Bears.”
It’s evident that Green aims to revive an era when films allowed kids to be mischievous, but the final product leans towards the sentimental charm of Cameron Crowe’s “We Bought a Zoo.” After Michael spends his first night at the Kicklighter residence, he discovers the siblings playing mud-dog in his Porsche upon waking. One may wonder how this seemingly car-obsessed individual can mature swiftly enough to solve the problem at hand. Green and screenwriter Leland Douglas facilitate Michael’s personal growth by casting Linda Cardellini as the family services worker tasked with finding a foster home for the children. In simpler terms, they bring in a character who helps guide Michael through his transformation.
“Some people can’t have children. Their bodies won’t let them,” she tells Michael, trying to convince him that his headache would make other people happy. During his time at his sister’s, Michael proactively tries to pawn the kids off on others. There’s Aloysius Wilmington (Toby Huss), a wealthy local who has everything … except kids of his own, and Rose (Edi Patterson), who’s worked out a scheme whereby each of her fosters nets her $800/month in government support. She wouldn’t mind adding four more boys to her roster.
It seems like none of these options fit properly, as “Nutcrackers” fails to present Michael as a suitable choice. Besides being self-centered, he lacks both the necessary experience in parenting and farming life – a point hinted at when mentioning that whoever takes custody of the Kicklighter kids would also be tasked with caring for their assorted animals: two pigs, one guinea pig, numerous goats, a dog or multiple dogs, and various types of birds, including a group of chickens that Michael is uneasy about slaughtering and consuming.
Michael’s antics won’t take anyone off guard, whether he slips on mud or plunges into the pond. Despite being home-schooled, sex education seems to be the only subject he imparts, awkwardly enough. If Michael ends up adopting these boys, he’ll have a multitude of tasks ahead: managing the farm, enrolling them in school, finding a new occupation, and instilling some proper etiquette – quite a challenge, but perhaps more engaging than melting his Scrooge-like demeanor over a few days.
If you’re puzzled about the unconventional title of the film, it actually refers to the Christmas dance spectacle that the boys were rehearsing with their popular local dance teacher, who also happens to be their mother. Despite other distractions, Michael insists on attending the Kicklighters’ modern take on “The Nutcracker,” which Green considers his grand finale. Instead of a ragtag Christmas play, the movie requires a more profound emotional release, akin to what one might feel when four characters have lost their mother, and the fifth should be grieving for his sister.
Reflecting on some of Green’s most remarkable movies, such as “George Washington” and “All the Real Girls,” it becomes evident that he has a profound understanding of loss. In this instance, he opted to emphasize the benefits reaped when a family unites.
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2024-09-06 07:47