GOOD KIDS

US, 2016, 86 minutes, Colour.
Nicholas Braun, Zoey Deutch, Mateo Arias, Israel Broussard, Ashley Judd, Demian Bechir, Julia Garner.
Directed by Chris Mc Coy.

Well, not exactly.

This is one of those films about teenagers, finishing high school, intending to go to college. They live on a promontory with wealthy neighbours and mansions. However, at the opening of the film, they lament that they have never been invited to parties in these mansions.

One is a tennis coach, wanting sexual experiences, finding that some of the middle-aged mothers are willing to have private lessons – including, surprisingly, Ashley Judd as one of the promiscuous women. The only girl in the group is a research assistant, attracted to her fellow-worker. Another is a chef, also wanting some sexual stimulation. The fourth teaches children martial arts and is more interested in drugs. They decide that they will spend the summer fulfilling their desires.

When the instructor is invited to a party and can bring anyone he wants, the film moves into portraying all the moves of the four. The IMD blurb indicates they want to reframe their lives – but, in these cases, not necessarily for the better.

As with most American films in this vein, it opens with the rather permissive attitudes but there is a challenge to personal and moral stances by the end.

Not exactly a film to spend time with.