I first need to admit something before Lee Kirk’s new film can be spoken about: I know, maybe, two Green Day songs. A band that was formative for so many people, it just was not that for me. But I can say with complete certainty that despite my lack of knowledge about or passion for the band, Kirk’s latest film Nimrods really works. The reason behind my Green Day preface is this: the film follows a young band who believe they are opening for their idols at their New Year’s Eve show, and travel across America to do so. This band is Green Day, and the film features a stacked soundtrack of Green Day songs and even the band itself. Luckily, Kirk draws clear inspiration from a generation of fans, but never relies too heavily on specific references and instead sticks to a simple, good coming-of-age road trip story.
Tommy and his band idolize Green Day. Lucky for them, the band is in town, even though the show is sold out. They do, however, luck out with getting to meet Green Day at a record store, where the boys share their demo with the band, a tape with one song on it and their phone number written on top. After hearing nothing for a few days, Tommy receives a call inviting his band to come open for Green Day at their sold-out show on New Year’s Day, not realizing that it is a prank call from his older brother. When Tommy and his band sneak away from Kansas City and hit the road to LA, it is anybody’s guess where the roads will take them on the way.
The young men who play the three band members, Mason Thames, Kylr Coffman, and Ryan Foust, all give great performances that remind you of real kids you knew growing up. Paired with a strong ensemble cast who continually add laughter and result in a constant finger pointed at the screen playing a game of who’s who, the film still knows when to dial in on the three main boys, especially lead Mason Thames, to bring more emotional depth to their journey, while still using the ensemble to keep things light.
The film will hit extra special for those who can identify with the very specific kind of adolescence Kirk is portraying here. Those who rocked out with their bands, or played Green Day too loudly in their parent’s house, from the story he is telling to the costuming and the way the boys talk to each other, the film is so in tune with this very specific type of youth that will bring back memories for some, while inspiring the new generation of pop-punk fans.
I will say that the pacing left a bit to be desired, especially once the boys were well into their road trip. Sometimes, roadblocks in their way seemed to be solved a bit too easily, resulting in a film that really feels like it has no stakes. Sure, we can all often guess where a coming-of-age story is going, but this trend of every issue somehow quickly and always working out became a bit tiresome and predictable, having me just waiting for them to arrive to LA.
Some areas of the plot feel a bit too underdeveloped. Specifically, Tommy’s own family history, including a father who has passed and who has clearly influenced Tommy’s own interest in music. This important aspect of his characterization is rarely mentioned until the ending conflict with his brother, which does not feel earned since we know so little about Tommy’s own relationship with the experience he had. This left me wondering whether some of the roadblocks they face on their journey for the sake of comedy could have been skipped in favour of a deeper look at some of these ideas.
What I really appreciated in the film was that you don’t need to be a huge Green Day fan to appreciate the boys’ road trip and passion. We can all see ourselves a little bit in them, wrapped up in our passions and hobbies, and knowing we are meant to do great things, even if it means going against the wishes of our parents. Not a new theme for the coming-of-age film, but one that is more nichely explored through the addition of the Green Day songs and references. It is a love letter to the band and to their fans, but it does not alienate those of us who know them casually.
Lee Kirk’s Nimrods is not changing the game in coming-of-age films. Its plot is quite by the books and has some issues with its pacing. But it cleverly features Green Day, who also produced the film, and a plethora of their songs, as well as characters who idolize the band, in a way that truly seems to understand the young pop-punk fans who inspired the film, and who continue to be inspired by Green Day every day.
Nimrods will be released in theatres in Canada on August 14. Image courtesy of Inaugral Entertainment.
