
The Grown-Ups
2017

2022
Director
Valentina Bertani
Runtime
96 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetSynopsis
When high school ends and adulthood begins, Benjamin and Joshua Israel, two identical twins of Jewish origin, start feeling burdened and without a future. Being in your twenties and having a sassy attitude is not enough if you have an intellectual disability and the world makes it hard for you to fit in. Joshua would like to have sex for the first time, while Benjamin chases the utopia of love. Although they clash repeatedly, the two brothers share an unbreakable bond. They will soon learn that growing up also means giving the other space without casting a shadow.
Overall Score
Good
Category Breakdown
LGBTQ+ Representation
The film explores individual quests for intimacy, including Joshua's desire for sexual experience and Benjamin's pursuit of love. This focus on personal autonomy suggests a nuanced approach to human connection that may challenge heteronormative expectations.
Gender Representation
The story centers on male protagonists, which can align with patriarchal storytelling. However, it disrupts masculine tropes by emphasizing vulnerability, emotional struggle, and the heavy burdens of adulthood rather than traditional competence.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
The protagonists are identified as being of Jewish origin. This provides a specific cultural lens that moves away from standard Anglo-Saxon defaults, prioritizing their unique cultural and familial background.
Religious & Cultural Diversity
The narrative critiques systemic pressures by framing adulthood as a burden. It departs from idealized family units by highlighting the friction and clashes inherent in the brothers' lived experiences.
Disability Representation
This is the film's strongest element. It grants agency to the brothers, treating their intellectual disabilities as a fundamental lens for experiencing the world rather than a hurdle to be overcome.
Strengths
Areas for Improvement
AI Analysis
The Crown Shyness succeeds by centering neurodivergent agency. Rather than treating intellectual disability as a source of pity, the film focuses on the protagonists' specific desires for sex, love, and independence. While the film remains focused on a specific demographic of Jewish men, it avoids traditional archetypes. It replaces the 'competent leader' trope with a complex study of vulnerability and emotional sensitivity. Ultimately, the documentary offers a sophisticated look at identity. It challenges societal expectations of adulthood by presenting a world viewed through a different cognitive framework.

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