Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Igby Slocumb, a rebellious and sarcastic 17-year-old boy, is at war with the stifling world of old money privilege he was born into. With a schizophrenic father, a self-absorbed, distant mother, and a shark-like young Republican big brother, Igby figures there must be a better life out there -- and sets about finding it.
Igby Goes Down is elevated primarily by its sharp, acerbic performances — Kieran Culkin is a standout as Igby, and the supporting cast (Susan Sarandon, Jeff Goldblum, Ryan Phillippe, Amanda Peet) bring real venom and wit to their roles, earning a well above average acting mark. The plot is a competent, darkly comic coming-of-age story in the vein of Catcher in the Rye, but it doesn't transcend its influences enough to score higher — familiar alienated-youth beats recur throughout. Cinematography is serviceable New York indie work, nothing distinctive. The film has a wry, sardonic voice that sets it apart somewhat from generic teen dramedies, but it remains in recognizable territory for its genre. The ending, while thematically consistent, feels more deflating than resonant.