If you haven’t been living under a rock, you will probably be aware of John Hughes – the American filmmaker widely known for his cult high-school comedies like “The Breakfast Club” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Although problematic when viewed now, almost four decades later, his film holds a special place in history – so much so that filmmakers still use his narrative style as a means to channel nostalgia for the 80s. Director Rob Grant’s “This Too Shall Pass” is another one of those nostalgia trips that thankfully doesn’t just blatantly mine the idea of an ’80s film without having a life of its own.
It all begins with a narration – the protagonist is Simon (Maxwell Jenkins), a 16-year-old, sitting in the backseat of Officer Harris’ (Chris Sandiford) vehicle. The back and forth between the two sets the mood for a Joh Hughes-esque comedy, albeit with a touch of self-awareness. We soon learn that Simon is from a strict Mormon family and that for a large part of his life, he has been secretly rebelling against their suffocating ideals.
His close friends include Tim (Ben Cockell) – a single child who seems to be freer than most of his peers because of his mother’s free-wheeling nature, Chris (Jeremy Ray Taylor) – the token nice-guy of the group who is in cahoots with most girls of their age, John (Aidan Laprete) – the desperate-to-get-laid cliche of the group, and James (Jaylin Webb) – the movie geek a.k.a the placeholder for co-writer Michael Simon Baker and director Grant himself.
When things go widely wrong on a night of partying for Simon just before their yearly break, he decides to pursue a girl named Shelly (Nikki Roumel) who showed some interest in him by travelling all the way to Ottawa (Canada). His idea of rebellion includes stealing money from his father, whom he is pissed at. His odd friends somehow agree to tag along, seeing that this could be an adventure of a lifetime, only to get mugged the first night they are there.
Now, there isn’t much here in the name of a plot – the usual predictable ways in which the movie can mess things up for Simon and the group take place in possibly the ways you would imagine. However, the use of a dual narrative device helps keep things engaging. You keep going through the motions, second-guessing each scenario as the one that would put Simon in harm’s way. This helps you feel connected with him and worried for the worst.
Rob Grant, whose previous film “Harpoon” was a straight-up genre fare, has a clear idea about how to introduce these characters and their personal journey through Simon. The film is not just nostalgic for a time but also aware that the bygone era had its share of problems. “This Too Shall Pass” essentially updates John Hughes’ template for the modern era, without losing the heart of his breezy, yet somewhat existential, edge.
That said, the film has its share of flaws, and since it is self-referential about them, they might come off as bothersome. It doesn’t help that you barely get to know these characters before they are sent on an adventure, and their eventual arc feels a bit out of touch and shallow. Misty (Katie Douglas), Grant’s version of the emo, manic pixie dream girl, and supposedly the one who helps get things into perspective, is played with a heavy-handed approach. The numerous references to the 80s, beyond the amazing music that includes “The Cure” among many others, don’t necessarily land as essential pieces.
The performances are serviceable at best, with “Arcadian” breakout Maxwell Jankins being the clear standout. He does his best to present a teenager trapped in a life he is unable to control, with a lot of emotional pull, even though sometimes the writing betrays him. Ben Cockell’s Tim is the other cast member who has an interesting role to play, and the actor does his very best. The film would have definitely benefited more if Katie Douglas’ Misty wasn’t so forced-fed to be the rambling, smarter-than-her-age young girl. Overall, “This Too Shall Pass” is a worthy throwback that, despite its issues, manages to keep you engaged.
