movie film review | chris tookey
 
     
     
 

Igby Goes Down

 (15)
© United Artists. Photo by Myles Aronowitz . - all rights reserved
     
  Igby Goes Down Review
Tookey's Rating
5 /10
 
Average Rating
7.33 /10
 
Starring
Jason 'Igby' Slocumb Jr.: Kieran Culkin , Mimi Slocumb: Susan Sarandon , Oliver Slocumb: Ryan Phillippe
Full Cast >
 

Directed by: Burr Steers
Written by: Burr Steers

 
Tookey's Review
Pro Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Anti Reviews
Cast
 
 
Released: 2002
   
Genre: DRAMA
BLACK COMEDY
RITES-OF-PASSAGE
COMEDY
   
Origin: US
   
Colour: C
   
Length: 0
 
 


 
16 year-old Igby Slocumb (Kieran Culkin) has sex appeal and a wealthy godfather (Jeff Golblum) who’s willing to fund him when he bunks off school and roams New York City. Here, he has many adventures.
Reviewed by Chris Tookey


Since these involve sex with Claire Daines and Amanda Peet, this might count as adolescent fantasy. But another plot involves Igby in the assisted suicide of his cancer-stricken mother (Susan Sarandon). This is the writing and directing debut from actor Burr Steers, who’s well-connected as the nephew of Gore Vidal and Jacqueline Onassis. This has the same laid-back deadpan wannabe-quirky quality of Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums, and many of the same weaknesses.

There’s no plot to speak of; the debt to The Graduate, Catcher in the Rye, Woody Allen and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is obvious; and there’s an awkward shift of gear when Steers suddenly wants us to care about people whom previously he has been holding up for our scorn.

Claire Daines is always a pleasure to watch, but Culkin struggles, especially in scenes where he is supposed to have sex appeal or be foul-mouthed. I just didn’t like the sarcastic little bratty know-it-all, nor see much pathos in him. There’s a thin line between clever and clever-clever, and Steers tramples all over it.


Key to Symbols