Kids Are Growing Up: A Story About a Kid Named Laroi (2024)

Kids Are Growing Up: A Story About a Kid Named Laroi (2024)

A standard musician biopic that might have been released too soon

6.8

Movie

United States of America
English
Documentary, Music
2024
MICHAEL D. RATNER
Justin Bieber, Katarina Demetriades, Lil Bibby
85 min

TLDR

As the artist himself suggests early in the documentary, you’re better off listening to his music than watching this.

What it's about

In this documentary, 20-year-old hip-hop sensation Kid Laroi talks about his humble beginnings, creative process, and the reality of young fame.

The take

What does a highly successful 20-year-old musician have to say about life and the industry? As we learn from Laroi, a lot apparently. Throughout this film, which documents his rapid rise from hopeful Aussie to international star, Laroi shares observations that are at turns earnest, endearing, and self-aware. Unfortunately, these likable traits aren’t enough to make Kids Are Growing Up staple viewing beyond Laroi’s fanbase. If you’re not part of the club, you might find it hard to grasp the necessity of this production at all. Though pleasantly intimate and amusingly animated, there is nothing innovative nor insightful about it. The Australian leg of his origin story seems to have been largely skipped, as are some parts of his musical process. And though it's the most interesting part about him, the documentary doesn't focus too much on him being a prodigy. Laroi is talented to be sure, but this documentary seems like a premature attempt at capturing him in his presumed prime. As a result, the filmmakers betray a lack of confidence in Laroi's future, even though it's clear it'll burn brighter than ever.

What stands out

His resemblance to Justin Bieber, with whom he shares a number one track, is uncanny, to say the least.

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