2023 ‧ Comedy/Drama ‧ 91m
The relationship of adult siblings is a subject that can become overwrought. Oftentimes, a pair of brothers or sisters go on some kind of adventure that strengthens their bond, or perhaps the family members go through a collective trauma that deeply affects sibling ties. Rarely do we see siblings just being siblings. Dustin Guy Defa’s third feature gives us just that.
The collective trauma has already happened when older brother Eric (Michael Cera) comes to have a fleeting visit with his sisters, Rachel and Maggie (Hannah Gross and Sophia Lillis respectively). Their mother died some years ago and their father isn’t mentioned. Rachel lives and maintains the family home while working at a radio station and Maggie has recently dropped out of college, but is living on her own. The are clearly adults as the title suggests, at least by most measures. Eric travels a lot for work, though it is never really explained how he makes money. He seems to be quite good at poker and calls around to see if he can get a game going with his old friends in town. It's possible that is the real reason he is visiting, and feels obligated to see his sisters through familial guilt. Eric extends and extends his trip in order for him to play more games. This poker angle becomes a bit of a b-plot that doesn’t quite get to the depth one would expect.
The main focus of the film is the siblings just being siblings. The weird behaviors they will have when no one is around and how adults can revert to childhood roles even in the absence of parents. We are treated to several scenes of Eric, Rachel, and Maggie play-acting characters and singing the silly songs they created while growing up. It is an unusual choice for Defa to make. Eric clearly feels alienated by his family, and these moments of whimsy are a respite. Though it is interesting to compare Cera’s poker player scenes to the ones in Molly’s Game, where he plays a much more scummy card shark, these scenes don’t have the same magic as the sibling ones. Save for a pretty funny scene where The Lion King is wryly retold. The film does not offer exactly much in the realm of plot, but there does seem to be an emotional depth that will resonate with those with siblings.
It is entirely possible this will be some of the strangest behavior audiences will see this year. But there is something endearing and real in this quiet little comedy-drama.
Grade: B-
~Andrew