Full Grown Men
Download this page in PDF formatWe all have that friend who just never grew up. Even as they lives his or her adult life they still have one foot in their childhood. Whether it be through gaming, comics, or toy collecting, they can still easily relate to the average ten year old without much challenge.
FULL GROWN MEN explores this friend with the character of Alby Cutrera (Matt McGrath) who is not just grown up, but a husband and a father who seems to prize his collection of childhood action figures more than he appreciates his family. He leaves his wife and child after a particularly heated fight and goes home to his mentally disabled mother. While there he reconnects with his longtime childhood friend Elias (Judah Friedlander) and accompanies him on a business trip to DiggityLand. On the way they not only explore their friendship, but Alby also comes across a cavalcade of interesting people that brings to mind some of the scenes from PEE WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE. Look out for some great cameos by Alan Cumming, Deborah Harry, and Amy Sedaris.
This movie is, at its heart, a road movie. But it is also a very good look at what really makes an adult an adult. While the movie penalizes the main character for his childish actions, it doesn’t rail against him for relishing his childhood. At his core Alby is still a troubled child who doesn’t want to grow up because he remembers life being happier and easier when he was a child (don’t we all?). His obsession with toys and old TV shows brings him back to the days when his father was still around and his mother was still somewhat mentally sound.
Elias’ character is that friend who we all made fun of when we were kids, even though he was still considered a friend and an integral part of the group. Elias is older now as well and has left his childhood behind and now works as a teacher for the mentally challenged children at his school. Not only does Alby interrupt Elias’ life and bring to fore some of the emotional scars that were left from his childhood, but it is obvious he looks up to Elias at the same time.
It’s great to see the emotional journey that Alby and Elias take in this film, and it’s also wonderful to see that they didn’t make the characters change into someone they aren’t at the end. Believable and well written with good direction and acting.
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