EL SEGUNDO HERALD April 23, 2015 Page 3 By Ryan Rojas for CINEMACY Opening at the ArcLight Hollywood this Friday is Adult Beginners, an adult-aimed comedy about struggling thirtysomethings trying to embrace and make sense of newfound grown-up living. It’s light-hearted fare and an easy watch that will effortlessly entertain young audiences with its humor and heart. Just don’t go into it expecting it to add anything new to the genre. The film stars Nick Kroll as Jake, a young jerky entrepreneur seen living the good life in a swanky Manhattan pad, celebrating the launch of his promising new tech-company that is set to make him and all his donor friends rich. That is, until he learns of a defect in the device that leads to the folding of his upstart, sinking his along with all of his friends’ investments. Deeming the last three years of his life a waste, Jake is forced to reevaluate a new life plan. With no other options, Jake leaves New York to temporarily move in with his estranged and very pregnant sister Justine (Rose Byrne), brother-in-law (Bobby Cannavale) and three year old nephew. As a Big City transplant in the small-town suburbs, Jake prolongs his stay, becoming their “manny,” looking after the kid with the hopes of grounding himself and figuring out next step. At this point, the movie leans into the comic hijinks of seeing Jake’s self-centered sleazeball so hilariously taking care of the kid ensuing in the sort of generalities of a kid being looked after by a bigger kid that you might expect. Adult Beginners works fine with the gimmicky laughs of Kroll as Jake so ineptly skilled at taking care of a kid. He wheels the kid to the park in a suitcase-as-stroller and hits on the single mothers. It’s all fine, quippy banter, but the movie is more or less saved by its complimenting and School Spotlight Film Review Caleb and Matthew Paddock, Nick Kroll, and Rose Byrne in Adult Beginners. Photo courtesy of RADiUS-TWC. See Film Review, page 14 Dodger Stadium Express now – Service from Harbor Gateway Transit Center and Union Station. 15-1905ps_sby-ie-15-011 ©2015 lacmta Go Metro to See the Dodgers Want to reach Dodger Stadium faster this season? Now you can Go Metro to Union Station or Harbor Gateway Transit Center and connect with the Dodger Stadium Express. Your Dodger ticket is good for the fare! For more information, visit metro.net/dodgers. Metro Business Interruption Fund Program Metro has partnered with Paci>c Coast Regional to administer the Business Interruption Fund, a pilot program designed to help small “mom and pop” businesses directly impacted by construction of three Metro Rail projects now underway, the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project, the Little Tokyo area of the Regional Connector and Phase I of the Purple Line extension. More info at pcrcorp.org. Eat, Shop, Play Crenshaw…and Win Cash! Pledge your support to shop at participating businesses along the Crenshaw corridor and qualify for a chance to win great prizes – including up to $1,000 cash! Find out how to pledge and participate at metro.net/crenshaw. Metro Seeks Input on 2016 Fiscal Year Budget Metro’s annual budget sets transportation priorities across Los Angeles County for the coming year. Before the budget goes to the Board of Directors, Metro would like your input. Metro will hold an informal public forum on April 25 and a public hearing on May 20 to gather comments on the proposed budget. The budget will go to the Board for approval in late May. Find out how to participate at metro.net/budgetcomments. metro.net @metrolosangeles losangelesmetro El Segundo High School Talent Show 2015 By Cece Stewart, Sophomore at ESHS On Thursday, April 16, I attended El Segundo High School’s talent show, which was hosted by the ESHS Drama Club. The performers had to be chosen: not just anyone can be in the talent show, so the performers are all incredibly talented and passed the tests to make the show. The show was hosted by seniors Zac Keller and Sarah Hansford. They would banter with each other in between acts, and were quite funny. The opened the show with a “Prologue Rap.” However, this rap used the song “Ice Ice Baby,” and was performed by teachers dressed in gold chains to look like rappers, including Mr. Lubs and Mr. Glotz, and they were hilarious in their attempt to seem like rappers. The first contestant was Rachel Wang, who performed a beautiful song on the grand piano, center stage. She is absolutely amazing. Next, a very confident girl, Marley Armstrong, sang a jazzy blues song. She was exuberant in her performance, and I aspire to be as confident as she. After her, Thomas Daroca played an instrument I had never heard of before - the Jaw Harp. He was dressed as Woody from Toy Story in his cowboy hat and clothes. In the background, pictures of Toy Story were being shown in a slide show. I first noticed this when he came dressed as a cowboy, and the background was blue with white clouds, and I knew I recognized it. Then, I realized it was from Toy Story and I put it all together. After him, an incredible act by Justin Bobbs and Nate Vinzon performed. They did a dance act where they acted as a puppet and a puppeteer. They wore white masks, which made the performance more mysterious. I cannot put into words how amazing the performance was, but I could not look away. After them, a “boy band,” including Bryce Schott, James Dahl, and Steven Moody performed a song they wrote. Steven played the base, James played the guitar, and Bryce played the electric guitar. It was amazing that they could create such incredible music. In the middle of the song, James played the trumpet, which was unexpected, making the song even better. Thereafter, my personal favorite of the night Jonathan Williams, also known as the yo-yo king, did an extreme yo-yo act. It was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen; and I know cool is not quite the best vocabulary I could use, but it is the best word to describe his performance. I cannot use a yo-yo regularly, but the things he could do with the yo-yo were amazing. He will surely be in the yo-yo Olympics. After that, there was a “Seniors Girls’ Dance.” The name of this act was not quite how it played out, though. There were two girls dressed as guys, and they lip-synched songs by boy bands. Then, another girl came out dressed as a rapper, and lip-synched the rap perfectly. After these acts and some banter between Zac and Sarah, it was intermission. The second session began with a “Teacher Dance.” Three of the Spanish teachers sang and danced to a song in Spanish. They were honestly one of the best acts, and it was hilarious. After that, Asia McGlover sang beautifully, and everyone in the audience was in awe. Then, Danielle Martinez and Dwayne Polk performed a dance number. They both had customized shirts, and their dance was great. One of the best parts about this performance was watching Dwayne’s family yell and cheer. It was so sweet to see how into it they were. Then, a musical prodigy, Tom Flores, played the piano. He was incredible. He could move his fingers so quickly but so beautifully. After this, Amore Angiano and Sam McKinney performed. Amore played the guitar, and Sam sang. Amore is honestly the best guitarist I have ever observed in my life, and he accompanied Sam’s voice perfectly. The last performer was Sean Szetho in “Live Looping.” It was an interesting act. He would make noises, record them, and replay them while on stage. He would do that over and over again until it sounded complete. After that, Sarah came to say the show is over, but then she said that there was one more, unplanned act. Zac, the other host, came out using an accent and a different name. He said he was going to break a brick with his head, and he succeeded. Terrifying. When all the performances were complete, all the contestants were called to the stage, and the winners were announced. Third Nick Kroll and Friends Grow Up in Adult Beginners See School Spotlight, page 14
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