Growing Up and Other Lies – An Honest Reflection

So, I just watched “Growing Up and Other Lies,” and it really got me thinking about my own antics when I hit the big three-zero. It’s this indie film, directed by Darren Grodsky and Danny Jacobs, who also starred in the movie. They take us on a stroll through New York City with a bunch of thirty-something friends reuniting for one last hurrah before one of ’em, Jake, played by Josh Lawson, leaves town.

The gang, including Adam Brody and Amber Tamblyn—both of whom are like the exes of every Swedish teenager’s dreams back in the day—try to retrace a wild day from their past. And I gotta say, as someone who once dragged my old kompisar around Stockholm to relive an epic night when I thought I’d move to Göteborg, this film hit a cheesy yet sincere spot in my nostalgia nerve.

The film has its ups and downs, kinda like a rollercoaster built by IKEA. It’s funny, but sometimes it feels more like it was assembled using one of those hex keys, if you catch my drift. Some scenes drag like a Sunday queue at ICA, while others are sharp and witty. It’s a bit inconsistent, yet there’s something charming about its imperfection, like a homemade kanelbulle that’s come out a little wonky.

Emma’s character, played by Tamblyn, felt a bit undercooked. Maybe they’re trying to show that not everyone’s as sorted as our Swedish Nobel Prize winners? Who knows. The film resonated with me, not because it’s perfect. Life isn’t. It’s tangled, unfinished, and sometimes, just a smidge bland. But relatable, like a warm cup of coffee on a drizzly Swedish afternoon.

If you’re in the mood for something light-hearted that pokes at the anxieties of hitting thirty, like it’s some kind of cosmic joke we can’t really escape, definitely give it a watch. Just keep your expectations at a cozy lagom level.

Check the trailer below