Nimrods is exactly the kind of movie based on a popular album that we all miss but never see anymore. Written and directed by Lee Kirk, the movie based on Green Day’s 1997 “Nimrod” is at once a throwback to the 90s punk aesthetic and a fresh take on what being a punk is like today. All without ever overstating its nostalgia or talking down to today’s youth.
Tommy (Mason Thames) is the classic picture of disaffected youth. He hates school, he hates his small town, he hates his brother, and he loves his punk band, Analog Dogs. As Nimrods gets going, we watch Tommy get up and walk straight out of school, picking up his best friend and bandmate Fred (Kylr Coffman) along the way.
It’s a typical teenage wasteland setup. Only, it’s 2026. Tommy doesn’t hate his mom; he’s not a bully or a vandal, and he hates digital technology. He’s poor but still fairly privileged. It’s a punk aesthetic without the punk baggage (or politics, but you can only expect so much from a wide-release movie).
Cameos and bit parts raise Nimrods up in stature.
This is a good thing. Nimrods isn’t weighed down by the real-life practicalities of the punk lifestyle, but it also isn’t trying to condescend to its viewers by shaming them for not having a “true” punk experience, as Green Day did at their age. All Nimrods wants is for the audience to have fun, love each other, and remember that Green Day made really good music.
The movie’s not a perfect specimen. It’s quite whitewashed and runs a little longer than necessary. But the story is effective, and the actors put on a great show. Nimrods is littered with cameos and bit parts from beloved comedians and sitcom stars, but its core performances are where it shines.
Tommy is tricked by his older brother into believing the Analog Dogs are opening for Green Day at a concert in LA on New Year’s Eve. His mission, with Fred and their drummer Chad, is to find a way to get there. They have no car, Tommy’s mom and brother can’t and won’t take them, and their entire future is on the line.
Nimrods is primarily a solid road-trip movie.
Ultimately, Nimrods is a road-trip movie with comedic and heartfelt stops along the way at country bars, junkyards, creepy motels, and so forth. Each stop is its own isolated vignette with guest actors who pop in for a few laughs, and each one is as enjoyable as the last. The only shortcoming is with Olivia (Mckenna Grace), the punk girl Tommy meets and falls for at one of the stops.
It’s hard to say whether Mckenna Grace is at fault for stiff acting or if the film just doesn’t offer her character enough depth. It’s fair enough that the characters get to have a little tryst, but there’s not much captivating about the character who is supposed to be the big guest star. It doesn’t help that Grace is styled to look substantially older than she is in real-life, let alone the teenager she’s meant to portray. It’s distracting only because the character only half works in the first place.
Kylr Coffman is Nimrods’ performance standout.
It’s Kylr Coffman who actually steals the show in Nimrods, though. His portrayal of the airhead best friend is absolutely spot on. You never pity him or find him too annoying. He’s only ever a great comedic foil to Tommy and Chad, with great facial expressions and dynamic line readings. It’s the ideal supporting character.
The conclusion is slightly anticlimactic, and a somewhat contrived final conflict feels more cookie-cutter than inspired, unfortunately. But the journey itself is still satisfying. People come together, make good music, and realize what’s most important in life. Nimrods is a nice reminder of what a small-scale movie used to look like while being entirely modern and authentic enough to the teenage experience.
Nimrods is now playing in theaters everywhere.
Nimrods
7.5/10
TL;DR
Nimrods is a nice reminder of what a small-scale movie used to look like while being entirely modern and authentic enough to the teenage experience.