Big Boys is a 2023 American coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Corey Sherman on his film debut. It stars Isaac Krasner, David Johnson III, Dora Madison Burge, Taj Cross and Emily Deschanel. The film is about a self-discovery of teenage boy who secretly falls in love with his cousin's boyfriend.
| Big Boys | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Corey Sherman |
| Written by | Corey Sherman |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Gus Bendinelli |
| Edited by | Corey Sherman Erik Vogt-Nilsen |
| Music by | Will Weisenfeld |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by |
|
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
editAs shy Jamie enters his awkward teen years, the differences between him and his older jock brother Will are becoming more pronounced beyond the superficial. With his beloved cousin Allie returning from college to take them on a camping trip, Jamie eagerly awaits their reunion that is until Allie arrives with her new boyfriend, the stocky and handsome Dan. As the weekend progresses, Will forces Jamie to join him in chasing girls, but Jamie can’t help being drawn to the supportive good nature of Dan.
Cast
edit- Isaac Krasner as Jamie
- David Johnson III as Dan
- Dora Madison Burge as Allie
- Taj Cross as Will
- Emily Deschanel as Nicole
- Marion Van Cuyck as Erika
- Emma Broz as Quinn
- Jack De Sanz as Fantasy Jamie
Production
editIn an interview on March 17, 2023, Corey Sherman shares that the idea of Big Boys came to him on May of 2021 while he was on a road trip with his brother and his dad. He also added that he shares the initial draft of the screenplay with his friend Allison Tate, which will be one of the producer of Big Boys. They began to work with the people that they had to worked with in college. The shooting began in the summer of 2022 at San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California.
Corey added:
I’m so glad that that comes through. I mean, I so wanted the movie to feel fun and genuine. I wanted it to capture the memories I had of vacations with my family as a kid, especially in the brotherly dynamic between Jamie (Isaac Krasner) and Will (Taj Cross).[1]
Release
editThe film premiered at BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival on March 18, 2023,[2] Provincetown International Film Festival on June 15, 2023,[3] Outfest LA Film Festival on July 22, 2023,[4] It was also premiered at Cleveland International Film Festival on April 9, 2024,[5] and has a limited release in the United States on May 31, 2024.
Home media
editThe film was released on Video on demand (VOD) platforms in the US on June 11, 2024.[6]
Reception
editOn the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 22 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.70/10.[7] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 80 out of 100, based on 4 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[8]
Peter Debruge of Variety gave the film a positive feedback and said: Corey Sherman’s deliciously uncomfortable debut features a lot of the usual ingredients: a misfit teenage protagonist, a transformative couple days (in this case, a “cousins’ camping trip” to Lake Arrowhead), a series of embarrassing but life-altering experiences. But I hadn’t seen anyone like his main character at the center of a movie before and loved how awkwardly this kid navigates trying to figure himself out.[9]
Ryan Gilbey of The Guardian gave the film a perfect 5 star and wrote: With its come-on of a title, its coming-of-age narrative and its teen hero on the verge of coming out, Big Boys sounds like the sort of LGBTQIA+ fare that grows on trees. In fact, this debut from the writer-director Corey Sherman is a real four-leaf clover: delicate, unique and subtly magical.[10]
David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review and he said: The film captures with enormous sweetness feelings probably familiar to many queer adolescents still figuring out who they are — of insecurity, questioning and giddy crushes on frequently unattainable objects of desire.[11]
Accolades
edit| Year | Awards | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Cleveland International Film Festival | American Independents Competition | Big Boys | Nominated | [12] |
| Palm Springs International Film Festival | Young Cineastes Award | Corey Sherman | Nominated | [13] | |
| 2023 | L.A Outfest | Outstanding Performance in a North American Narrative Feature | Isaac Krasner | Won | [14] |
| Best Narrative Feature | Corey Sherman | Won | |||
| FilmOut San Diego Film Festival | Best Actor | Isaac Krasner | Won | [15] | |
| Frameline Film Festival | Outstanding First Feature | Corey Sherman | Won | [16] | |
| Sofia Pride Film Festival | Audience Award | Corey Sherman | Nominated | [17] |
References
edit- ^ Baker, Neil (March 17, 2023). "Big Boys – in conversation with writer and director Corey Sherman". Cinerama Film. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ "Full programme announced for 37th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival 2023". bfi.org.uk. 15 February 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ Reber, Dylan (May 16, 2023). "Provincetown Film Festival Lineup Features Billy Porter, Bruce LaBruce, and More". The Advocate. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ Koss, Matthew (July 17, 2023). "Outfest Los Angeles 2023 Highlights Corey Sherman's Achingly Beautiful Debut "Big Boys"". Awards Focus. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ "CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AND GREATER CLEVELAND URBAN FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP PRESENTATION LIGHTS, CAMERA, UNITY: CELEBRATING BLACK STORIES CLEVELAND". clevelandfilm.org. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ Bergeson, Samantha (May 13, 2024). "'Big Boys' Trailer: Corey Sherman's Queer Coming-of-Age Comedy Tackles Teen Body Shaming". IndieWire. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ "Big Boys". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ "Big Boys". Metacritic. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ Debruge, Peter (July 22, 2023). "'Big Boys' Review: A Queer Kid Embarks on a Uniquely Bear-Friendly Camping Trip". Variety. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ Gilbey, Ryan (March 18, 2023). "Big Boys review – an achingly brilliant queer coming-of-age classic". The Guardian. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ Rooney, David (June 21, 2023). "'Big Boys' Review: An Affecting Queer Coming-of-Age Reflection on Sexual Self-Discovery". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ Morona, Joey (April 15, 2024). "Cleveland International Film Festival announces best of fest awards; stream some winning films at home". www.cleveland.com. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ "PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2024". Psfilmfest. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ Reynolds, Daniel (July 24, 2023). "Outfest 2023: And the Winners Are..." Out. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ "OFFICIAL SELECTION/WINNERS". sandiegomovieawards.com. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ Complex, Valerie (May 19, 2023). "Frameline Announces Full Program For The 47th Annual San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ "Sofia Pride Film Fest". FilmFreeway. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
