`Igby Goes Down' is a tale of modern preppie teenage rebellion. Even though it did have its share of youthful intelligence & coming-of-age eccentricities, I must say I do have to give `Igby Goes Down' a marginal thumbs down. Kieran Culkin stars as Igby- our young protagonist who rebels against his controlling mother, spoiled brother, demented father, and egocentric godfather. He finds affectionate comfort in the arms of 2 twenty-something expressive hotties played by Claire Danes & Amanda Peet. I must admit Culkin does have an unfledged cinematic charisma, and I am sure that Kieran does have a bright acting future. He might even star as himself in his own `E Hollywood Story' adaptation of `The Dangerous Lives of Young Hollywood Actor Boys' if he is not too careful. Writer-Director Burt Steers strains too hard to create `Igby Goes Down' as an updated mentally-complex version of `The Graduate'. Unfortunately, Steers steered too far away from the simplistic elements that made `The Graduate' one of the best coming-of-age films ever made. Even though many critics have praised upward positive remarks to `Igby Goes Down', it is more as an up & down cinematic cruise to me. *** Average
Review of Igby Goes Down
