A witty, New York-set talk-fest about a group of twentysomethings who, with college degrees and no prospects, lean on each other and a friendly local bartender in their quest for the meaning of life.
A group of recent college graduates hover around campus unable to cut the umbilical cord of academic life.
Excerpt: "Who would you rather be stranded on a deserted island with, MacNeil or Lehrer?" -- first line of dialogue.
Review 1:
"...Baumbach surely does make these characters, all of whom are impeccably acted, absolutely real....Baumbach builds unobtrusively to a knock-your-socks-off finish that allows KICKING AND SCREAMING to conclude on its strongest note..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.F1 10/25/1995
Review 2:
"...[The film has] a good eye and a terrific ear..."
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
p.43 11/10/1995
Review 3:
3.5 stars out of 4 -- "[T]he balance is introspective, goofy, sharp, and every bit as relevant at the beginning of this century as it was at the end of the last decade."
Source: Premiere
p.99 10/01/2006
Review 4:
"...[The dialogue] scales the heights of post-Salinger acidity and provides an element of charming pathos..." -- Rating: B+
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.76 04/12/1996
Review 5:
"...An easy, low-key tone, with nicely framed shots and subtle camera movements....Baumbach draws good performances from his cast..."
Source: Variety
10/02/1995
Review 6:
"...[A] wryly comic mood piece....Scenes move from hurt to resigned laughter and ring poignantly true..."
Source: Rolling Stone
p.90 09/21/1995