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A Kid Like Jake

Name: A Kid Like Jake
Genre: Drama, Family
Released: June 1, 2018
Duration: 92 min
Rating: 60
Cast: Aasif Mandvi, Amy Landecker, Ann Dowd, Cindy Cheung, Claire Danes

2018

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 19 Critics

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Ratings

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5.7

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5.7	Your Score
5.7	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Ratings

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A Kid Like Jake

Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date: June 1, 2018 | NR

Starring: Aasif Mandvi, Amy Landecker, Ann Dowd, Cindy Cheung, Claire Danes, Jim Parsons, Julia Taylor Ross, Kelly Deadmon, Lee Aaron Rosen, Leo James Davis, Octavia Spencer, Priyanka Chopra, Shaunette Renée Wilson

Summary: Brooklyn parents Alex (Claire Danes) and Greg (Jim Parsons) are lucky to have a kid like Jake. Their four-year-old is bright, precocious, creative—and just happens to prefer Disney princesses to toy cars and skirts to jeans. Jake’s “gender expansive” behavior—as local preschool director Judy (Octavia Spencer) dubs it—is no big deal to AlexBrooklyn parents Alex (Claire Danes) and Greg (Jim Parsons) are lucky to have a kid like Jake. Their four-year-old is bright, precocious, creative—and just happens to prefer Disney princesses to toy cars and skirts to jeans. Jake’s “gender expansive” behavior—as local preschool director Judy (Octavia Spencer) dubs it—is no big deal to Alex and Greg. Or so it seems, until the process of navigating New York City’s hyper-competitive private school system opens up a parental quagmire: could Jake’s gender nonconformity be just the thing that gives their child an edge in the admissions game? How young is too young to put a label on a child’s identity? Is this just a phase, or is Jake truly transgender? Split in their opinions on how to handle the situation, Alex and Greg find themselves navigating an emotional and ethical minefield with one patch of common ground between them: their fierce desire to do what’s right for Jake. [IFC Films]… Expand

Director: Silas Howard

Genre(s): Drama, Family

Rating: NR

Runtime: 92 min

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Awards & Rankings

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Critic Reviews

The Hollywood Reporter Leslie Felperin

May 31, 2018

[A] simply lovely comedy-drama. Read full review

New York Magazine (Vulture) Emily Yoshida

May 31, 2018

It’s remarkable how engaging and light on its feet the director and cast are able to keep this subject matter, how much permission he gives them to f*ck up and try again. Read full review

The Associated Press Lindsey Bahr

May 31, 2018

A Kid Like Jake might not be especially cinematic, but it is profound in its simplicity and truthfulness about what real fights sound like and what real lives look like. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Jun 13, 2018

Benefits from a sensitive, even-tempered tone, as well as terrific supporting performances from Spencer, Ann Dowd (as Alex’s status-obsessed mom) and a scene-stealing Amy Landecker, who plays an ambivalent therapy client of Greg’s. Read full review

Arizona Republic Randy Cordova

Jun 14, 2018

A Kid Like Jake, isn't terrible, but it sure could be better. Read full review

New York Post Johnny Oleksinski

May 31, 2018

Danes and Parsons are a weird pairing, who carry their TV personas with them like tote bags. Their “Homeland” and “Big Bang Theory” shticks don’t quite click. Even so, when Danes’ mother comes to realize that her sweet kid is more than just a talking point, she’ll have you wiping away tears. Read full review

TheWrap Dan Callahan

May 31, 2018

The writing in A Kid Like Jake feels more like playwriting than like screenwriting because we are told things in dialogue about Jake but barely ever get to see him behaving. Read full review

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User Reviews

TVJerry

Jun 18, 2018

A couple’s effort to get their 4-year-old son in a good kindergarten becomes a challenge, as a result of his gender non-conforming expression. This film is based on the play, which was produced here last year. The screenplay transfers many of the same problems: The political talking pointsA couple’s effort to get their 4-year-old son in a good kindergarten becomes a challenge, as a result of his gender non-conforming expression. This film is based on the play, which was produced here last year. The screenplay transfers many of the same problems: The political talking points are checked off in the extended dialogue scenes, making this play more discussion than a drama. Claire Danes brings her neurosis from "Homeland" to the mother, while Jim Parsons is laid back and not especially effective as the father. It's good that this relevant topic is tackled, but the tedious talking and lack of emotional depth don't help make the point.… Expand

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