“A lot of the time we feel like our life is the worst, but think when you look in someone’s closet you wouldn’t trade your shit for their shit.” -Ray
“Mid90s” is NOT a skateboard movie. I repeat “Mid90s” is NOT a skateboard movie. This coming of age tale written and directed by Jonah Hill from film studio A24, is a unique blend of Native Tongue meets “Kids“. Set in Los Angeles we watch as Stevie (Sunny Suljic) a lonely 13-year old boy navigates being bullied by his older brother Ian (Lucas Hedges), his mother Dabney (Katherine Waterson) single parent household, and meeting a group of friends who his mother thinks are a bunch of delinquents.
The impressionable Stevie attaches himself to this much older crew who give life lessons hard and fast. The crew is addicted to skateboarding, drugs, and sex but through it all they are a family, and welcome Stevie into the mix. Meet Fuckshit (Olan Prenatt), Fourth Grade (Ryder McLaughlin), Reuben (Gio Galicia), and the stand-out actor Ray (Na-Kel Smith).
Ray is the leader of the crew, who wants out of the hood and has big dreams of being a pro skater. His eyes tell a story, he’s observant and quick to put the crew in their place. He lights up the screen from the moment he appears. Fuckshit who is privileged and lives life on the edge just wants life to be a full-time party, and his hair is amazing. Fourth Grade doesn’t speak much, but his words are in the form of film. He documents the crews shenanigans and his dream is to become a film-maker. Lastly we have Reuben who was the youngest of the crew before Stevie, lots of family issues and is happy to have the crew as an escape from his troubles at home.
The family dynamic was hilarious and troubling at the same time. Ian bullies Stevie relentlessly, while Dabney is so caught up in trying to be a good parent she’s not parenting at all. She’s supplementing income by turning tricks part-time, which plays into why older brother Ian is not stable.
This movie was funny, had depth and really told a story. It definitely speaks to who Jonah Hill is and I highly recommend you check it out!