‘Nimrods’ Review – A Charming if Somewhat Middling Coming-of-Age Comedy

Ryan Foust, Kylr Coffman, and Mason Thames | Courtesy of Inagural Entertainment

If, as a teenager, you ever fashioned yourself a wannabe rock star, then you might’ve dreamed of one day opening for your favorite band. That dream might’ve seemed far away and impossible. But, as many a band can tell you, dreams can come true in the strangest and most unexpected of ways, often through a series of random and surprising happenstances. And it’s one such series of strange, random happenstances that sends Analog Dogs, the stars of Lee Kirk’s Nimrods, traveling across the country on a quest to open for Green Day on New Year’s Eve. Loosely based on Green Day’s early days traveling cross-country in a van, Nimrods is a charming coming-of-age comedy that’s both a nostalgic throwback and a timeless ode to being yourself. Though a bit too long for its own good and occasionally middling, it’s a joyous watch through-and-through.

‘Hitchin’ a Ride’ Across the Country

Tommy (Mason Thames) feels stuck; stuck in the same old town, in the same old school. But he has a band with his friends, Fred (Kylr Coffman) and Chad (Ryan Foust), and he’s sure that one day, the Analog Dogs will be spoken in the same breath as the likes of Green Day. It’s a dream that just might come true when Tommy receives a phone call from Green Day’s drummer, Tré Cool, inviting the band to open for Green Day at a New Year’s Eve concert in Los Angeles. And so, Tommy and his friends steal a car and set off on a cross-country road trip to make their dreams come true. But little does he know that the whole thing is an elaborate prank played by his brother, Wayne (Keen Ruffalo). Nevertheless, a dream’s a dream and, after all, what could possibly go wrong?

Despite its somewhat hokey premise, Lee Kirk’s Nimrods has a lot of charm. There’s just something really fun about taking the bones of what could’ve otherwise been yet another run-of-the-mill musical biopic and turning it into a silly-yet-earnest coming-of-age comedy. Ostensibly, this is a movie about Green Day, but it’s not really about them. Though it draws inspiration from the band’s earlier years, it never ventures into the realm of self-importance. Instead, Kirk takes those elements of Green Day’s past and uses them to tell an entirely new story about finding yourself in a world you feel distanced from. It’s sweet, and it’s frequently funny—even if the film’s pacing really slows things down and the jokes don’t always land. There’s just something timeless about the idea of doing whatever you can to achieve your dreams, and Nimrods captures that essence perfectly.

A Cast All ‘Having a Blast’

Nimrods‘ heart and soul rest in the performances and chemistry of its main actors, all of whom seem to be having the time of their lives here. As the Analog Dogs, Thames, Coffman, and Faust feel like the kind of scruffy garage band you might find anywhere across the country. Coffman plays the seemingly carefree Fred, who lives life to the fullest in all senses of the word. Fred’s the kind of guy who can stumble his way through any situation, even if the path he chooses isn’t the right one. Chaotic to a fault, but with his heart on his sleeve, Coffman gives the film a lot of brevity. Meanwhile, Faust plays the straight-laced Chad, held back by his overprotective parents and his strict adherence to the rules. His neurotic tendencies and general risk-aversion provide a foil for Fred’s over-the-top chaos in some immensely funny ways.

And then there’s Thames as Tommy, the lead singer and most mellow member of the band. Thames brings a real sense of melancholy to Tommy. There’s a lust for life and adventure, but there’s also a deep sadness bubbling just underneath the surface. Much of Nimrods rests on Tommy’s journey towards confidence and self-acceptance, and Thames’ performance is what makes the film work. But let’s not forget Mckenna Grace‘s brief, yet scene-stealing turn as Olivia, a skateboarder Tommy and the band meet on their journey across the country. Acting largely as a love interest for Tommy, Olivia gives the film a real sense of warmth and lightness in the film’s somewhat sluggish second act. Though Thames and Grace’s spark is both predictable and archetypal, it’s nevertheless quite sweet in execution.

Final Thoughts, or Will You Have the ‘Time of Your Life’?

And that’s really the case for Nimrods as a whole. It’s a safe, predictable, and pretty standard coming-of-age comedy. But there’s an earnest sweetness that gives the film a lot of life. As a quasi-biopic, it successfully eschews all the trappings of the genre by taking elements of Green Day’s real history and wholly fictionalizing them with pretty respectable results. Longtime Green Day fans will find a lot to love here—and a lot to lovingly roll their eyes at when it comes to some of the music choices, especially towards the end of the film.

As a coming-of-age comedy, however, it’s slightly less successful. Though filled with cameos from the likes of Fred Armisen, Angela Kinsey, Jenna Fischer, and Bobby Lee, the film’s in need of some tightening up to reach its true comedic potential. Put simply, you’ve seen this film before, and you’ve probably seen a better version of it in every conceivable way. That’s not to say Nimrods is bad, or anything. Just that once you get past the novelty of its premise, it’s a pretty standard film overall. Still, its immense charm carries it far and makes it well worth a watch for all those wannabe rockstars at heart.

Nimrods debuts in theaters August 14th.

Michael Cook

Part-time writer, part-time theatre nerd, full-time dork.