Nimrods, the new film produced by Green Day and infused with their lifeblood, is a delightful romp that feels very 90s. A coming-of-age punk rock comedy inspired by the band’s early touring days, the film takes its title directly from 1997 album Nimrod. From its grungy style to a soundtrack bursting with perfectly cherry-picked needle drops, nearly every element feels lovingly constructed around the band’s legacy. There’s an organic looseness to the performances that only adds to its charm, buoyed by excellent comedic delivery. This road trip comedy overflows with wholesome laughs and a riveting musical backbone. Fans of Green Day will be in cinematic heaven.
Functioning similarly to Detroit Rock City, this interesting title finds budding teenage band Anal OG Dogs (pronounced ‘Analogue Dogs’) on the cusp of greatness. They record a single demo track in the hopes of getting it in front of Green Day, their idols. They cannot even manage to snag tickets to their local concert; however, a signing nearby presents the perfect opportunity to spark a connection. The band seems cool enough during this expectation-dying meetup to leave an imprint on lead singer Tommy (Mason Thames). Afterward, Tommy’s brother (Keen Ruffalo) and his cynical best friend (Ignacio Diaz-Silverio), decide to play the ultimate prank. The duo call Tommy pretending to be Tré Cool from Green Day, imploring him to drive to California to open for the band at the Palladium.
Nimrods transforms into a friendship drama, with each major character undergoing mental and emotional changes throughout the course of the story. Our lead, Tommy, is the headstrong, committed frontman, complete with a trademark slutty little earring that somehow perfectly encapsulates his personality. His brother in arms, Fred (Kylr Coffman), always seems to find his way into trouble (or shrooms!), while their drummer, Chad (Ryan Foust), is a total momma’s boy. Their dynamic always keeps things interesting, and the film understands that the chemistry between these boys is just as important as eventually getting them in front of their musical heroes.
As they make their way far from Kansas, this trio come upon all manner of ridiculous situations, perform in a battle of the bands, and even end up at a makeshift music festival alongside several other people living on the fringes. This leaves room for Mckenna Grace to pop in for an original song and a kiss, adding an extra layer to her adorable connection to her offscreen boyfriend. The parents of the boys are increasingly more worried about their whereabouts, and folks closing in on them only adds to the contagious fun. The direction here from Lee Kirk, who co-write the script with Green Day, remains stellar throughout, constantly keeping us up-to-date on how close we are to the impending New Year’s Day concert. Each day gets broken up by quirky detours that remain fresh despite a nearly two-hour runtime.
Beneath the weed, punk rock, and dumb teenage decisions, there’s a fair share of heart baked into the gooey center. Subtext about grieving over a dead parent spoke to me personally, having lost my mother back in 2020, and it gives Tommy’s journey an emotional foundation that prevents added texture to his obsession with reaching California. Mason Thames and his diamond-cut jawline position him as a fitting lead who we constantly root for despite his bold ambitions. The wholesome nature to the whole thing endears this character, and those who surround his orbit. This is an outsider movie, a film that encourages people to color outside the lines, and its message of positivity is what we really need right now.
The other characters are nearly as compelling. Bestie Fred comes off as the likable doofus, with his presence acting as an oafish foil to Tommy. The film does a great job in fleshing out all three members of the Anal OG Dogs, the high-energy band at the film’s epicenter. It’s delightful to see their raw live performances juxtaposed against the later professionalism of Green Day. The perfectly selected tunes establish the tone beautifully without ever making the movie feel like an extended band commercial. This is a film that will speak to the younger generation specifically. In a time where music is consumed so differently, to even see a vinyl record playing within the runtime gave me a nostalgic rush of glee.
Power couple Mason Thames and Mckenna Grace continue taking Hollywood by storm in this indie delight from Live Nation Studios. By the time Nimrods reaches its home stretch, it earns the euphoric musical payoff that the entire road trip has been building toward. More movies should end with concerts: Rat Race, Detroit Rock City, and even Shrek understood the assignment. Nimrods joins their ranks as a nostalgic, heartfelt celebration of friendship and big dreams.
Don’t be an American idiot: catch Nimrods exclusively in theaters.
