Kicking and Screaming (1995)

Slackers graduate college, forego life experiences for pop culture references

Twenty years later, Noam Baumbach is still making his own brand of hilarious yet bittersweet comedies, but it all started with 1995’s Kicking and Screaming. Think of this mid-90s tale of twentysomething malaise as Clerks for the intellectual crowd – it’s the quintessential “What the hell do I do after college?” movie. That said, the sheltered navel-gazing of its characters would’ve been unbearable if not for a biting sense of humor, wonderful performances, and Baumbach’s clear sense of compassion towards these often infuriating kids. Finely crafted and deftly directed, Kicking and Screaming occasionally strives too hard for quirky endearment, but it usually hits that note with grace and charm.