Adulthood

Directed by Alex Winter, Adulthood follows siblings Meg (Kaya Scodelario) and Noah (Josh Gad) as they find themselves in a decidedly unsavory situation after their mother falls ill. Filmmaker Winter, working from Michael M.B. Galvin’s screenplay, delivers a seriously erratic endeavor that grows less and less interesting as it progresses, which is a shame, ultimately, given that the (admittedly familiar) setup holds plenty of promise – with the initially agreeable atmosphere heightened by the solid, affable efforts of leads Gad and Scodelario. (The latter is especially good as a figure whose seemingly set-in-stone ideas of right and wrong keep shifting as the narrative unfolds.) It’s clear, ultimately, that Adulthood’s inability to consistently hold the viewer’s attention stems from Winter’s flat execution, and there’s little doubt that the pervasive lack of tension, which is true even of scenes and sequences of an almost inherently suspenseful nature (eg Meg and Noah are visited by a police officer), only highlights the less-than-fresh bent of Galvin’s script. And while the picture admittedly does boast a strong closing stretch, Adulthood has, by that point, long since cemented its place as a disappointing misfire that feels like it should be so much better.

** out of ****