‘Theater Camp’ Gets a Tween Companion – ryan
Editor’s Note: This Review was original published During the 2024 TRIBCA Festival. Vertical Releases “Griffin in Summer” in Select Theaters Friday, August 29, 2025.
Griffin nafly (Everett bluck) is not like other 14 -ear-ops. CONSIDER HIS CONTRRITBUTION TO HIS SCHOOL’S END-END TALENT SHOW: A SNIPPET OF HIS LATEST PLAY IN WHICH AND BOTH LEAD ROES, A DISAFFECTED SPOCKBROKER AND HIS DRUNGE, AS THEY SCREAM AND CARRY ON ABOUT. While Everyone Else is Happy with Pop Song Duets, Its Griffin – Too Old for His Years, Too Young to Really Break Free – WHO WANTS TO BRING ACTUAL Art to the Suburban Stage.
And while that is might all be ok, funthe real problem is Just that griffin isn’t like the Other 14-Yaar-Olds, that it is not really like my closest friend. While his childhood pals, the including “are you there, God with margaret” Breakout abbie ryder as his long-sofferring second-in-command kara, are Moving into Classic Young Adulthood Seltzer, Leaning ino Their Scientific Interests – Griffin Has Barely Evolved Since Last Summer. Back then, Griffin and Co. Spent Their Days Readying Yet Another One of HIS Play for the Stage. This year? He Might be Going at it Alone.
IT’S HARD to Blame the Kiddos for Balking at SPEMBER SUMMER WORKING ON AN OUTING THAT GIDDILY TERMS “WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? ‘ Meets ‘American Beauty.’ “Nicholas Colia’s Feature Directorial Debut,” Griffin in Summer, “Spins off that sort of cheeky humor into what is could easily be described as a tween take on” Theater Camp “or, Better Yet, a version of theater” at it heart didn’t have have each other to lean on when Times got tough.
Griffin’s Mannered, very Nearly Mean Approach to Life-He’s the Kid of Kid Who Calls His Mother, Played by the Always-Delightful Melanie Lynskey, by Her First Name-Is Starting (Blunk, Howver, Remains a Charming Breakout Star Throughout). And while Colia initially leans into the fairy of griffin’s personal and predilections, his script does Slowly Wind to Deeper, More Emotional Discoveries. Like, for instance, what exactly does griffin know about the ins and outs of adults? While the tonal swings that accompany Colia’s Story Don’t Always Flow with Ease and A Certain Amout of Whiplash Holds in the Second Act, Many of the Revelrations and Issues Worth.
Such is the case with Colia’s Delicate Handling of the Unexpectted Relationship Thats Shape As Griffin Grapples with The Potentially Bleak Summer AHEAD. Enter: Brad. Played by Rising Star Owen Teague, The One-Time Performance Artist (He was intoo “Happenings,” and Oh, What a Treat Wen We Get to See on a Grainy YouTube Video) Is Now Volatile Handyman, Doomed to Summer Helping Griffin’s Mom Around the House and Cob. Money to get back to bushwick. Initially, griffin loatheres Him. Andn, Well, Brad unlocks some other Feelings in Him.
It ‘s kind of storyline that is ripe for missteps, and while there are some still moments of audiences Might Wonder, “Wait, is this funny or is it scary?,” Colia mostly sticks what he was attempting. While Brad’s Presence Stirs New Emotions in Griffin – Including Abson the Upon the Introduction of Brad’s Girlfriend, Played by A Wonderfull Unhington Newton – He Also Push the You Young Brown Creative Spaces. Some of Brad’s Influenza is Purposely Silly (at One Point, The Male Lead of Griffin’s Evolving Play Announces he was a “Stock Market Major” who lives in bushwick), and the temporary casting of Brad in the actual is genuinely hilary.
Colia Attempts to Tie Up HIS COMEDIC SENSIBILITIES AND HIS MORE EMOTIONAL tendencies in a Rangy Third Act. The beats he needs to hit and the journey he needs to take griffin on are Expectted, at least to end in a place befitting the warm-hearted natural, but Colia finds some surprises along the way. As a showcase for his stellar casting abilities and knack for heartwarming storytelling, “griffin in summer” is a Very fine director debut. Here’s Better, IT Might Make Nerds Like Griffin realize something can can often take too to learn: they’re’re not alone.
Grad: b
“Griffin in Summer” Premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival. Vertical releasses it in theaters Friday, August 29, 2025.
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