Review of 12 and Holding (2006) by Michael N — 03 Aug 2008

This movie really surprised me, I'm not sure whether it was the way the younger kids interacted with each other...or the language which they used so casually was what completely intrigued me. It seemed to be a darker version of what being a twelve-year-old in modern day society entails.

It starts off with two mischievous brothers being chased by bullies, one is up the ladder to their treehouse and then the other [submissive, shy and quieter] one eventually follows. Rudy [the impulsive one] ends up dumping a pail of urine onto the two which results in a series of wretching...followed by many death threats.

The two brothers are quite different, one is outgoing, completely social seems to have the entire world at his fingertips. Whereas Jacob, the introverted one wears a hockey mask [like Jason Voorhees because he's badass] to cover up the large birthmark on his face.

Their father keeps getting requests to sell the land, but refuses seeing that his kids play there and feels there is no price for something like that. Finally, a number comes up that catches his interest...and when Rudy relays this information unto their friends Malee and Leonard he has an idea to save the treehouse...sit in.

Malee decides not to indulge her best friend's wishes, yet Leonard is pulled in instantly - peer pressure? Rudy sneaks off in the middle of the night, while Jacob quietly watches from the top bunk. His brother insults him as he finally leaves and explains that it's his fault that the two bullies are always following them around. You need to stick up for yourself, stop being such a pussy!

Regardless of his brother's tauntings, Jacob stays...and Rudy leaves. Rudy and Leonard camp out in the treehouse, whilst sleeping soundly they are oblivious to the fact that Jeff and Kenny are throwing flaming cocktails at the structure.

Jeff misses, but Kenny doesn't...and only when they hear screaming does Jeff take off...but Kenny stays and sees as Leonard falls from the ladder. He goes towards him, realizes they messed up and runs away.

Leonard earns a second chance, and with that...he tries to fix things to make his family healthy...and goes to extreme measures to do just that.

As Rudy is not so lucky, his death takes a toll on the entire community...especially all his friends and brother. Jacob seethes with rage, quietly...and questions why his parents are so quick to move on. He doesn't really get over or tries to, his brother's death for that matter.

Meanwhile, Malee is the daughter of a psychiatrist who doesn't seem to have the best of relationships with her mother. She meets one of her mother's patients and begins to develop very strong feelings toward him - that is perhaps how Rudy's death had effected her?

This is the story of how the remaining kids learn to deal with tragedy...and the terrible process of growing up. This is when they learn to be unlike their parents, and being placed in different situations...they grow into the people they might one day become.

It's a very interesting head on collision of parenthood and being a pre-teen combination. It's humorous at times, but it's quite relatable as well...especially when the children try to find themselves while their parents remain being lost.