Kicking and Screaming

From the lighter side of the Criterion Collection comes the first DVD of Noah Baumbach’s first film, and in light of the success of his third, The Squid and the Whale, it seems worthwhile to revisit his maiden effort, from fresh out of Vassar. Indeed, the original title of his script, Fifth Year, better sums up the subject, as a motley group of just-graduated guys warily edge up on getting a life. It’s all funny and true in a slackerish sort of way, but doesn’t add up to all that much. Josh Hamilton and Olivia D’Abo are effective as the maybe-or-not couple who met in creative writing class, but the scene-stealers are the always tart and funny Christopher Eigenman and the mug-faced Carlos Jacott, with indie fixtures Eric Stoltz and Parker Posey contributing cute cameos. Anyway, this film shows a lot of promise, on which Baumbach has already started to deliver -- definitely a young writer-director to watch. (1995, dvd, r.) *6*