(rated R, 96 mins.)
There are a lot of elements in this movie that equal a string of classic books to films. The most obvious being Holden Caulfield from “Catcher In The Rye”. While this is another disillusioned and rebellious teen story, it’s nothing short of fresh and brilliant in its review of social class, society and sharp wit. Kieran Culkin stars as Igby Slocumb. Kicked out of every prep school, his fed up, dying, mother of leisure (Susan Sarandon) ops to send him off to military training. Refusing to deal with that choice, Igby steals her credit card and takes off for the big city. There he stashes away in an artist’s loft owned by his godfather (Jeff Goldblum), now inhibited by a dancer (Amanda Peet), who just happens to be his godfather’s mistress. It’s not long before he beds the mistress that another young woman named Sookie (Clarie Danes) arrives in his life. She’s spunky and sexy; Igby has met his match. Culkin’s performance holds the movie together much as he did in “The Dangerous Lives Of Altar Boys”, although this time the slight difference being his fine balance of cynical meets innocence. Director/writer Burr Steers intended Igby to be a novel, which is evident in the rich and detailed film, the characters full development and back-story told in such a way that they don’t belabor the running time. His complex delving into family neuroses made to look oh so easy, should and is much commended.
