Miles (2016)

Miles: Directed by Nathan Adloff. With Tim Boardman, Molly Shannon, Stephen Root, Will Erat. A kid from middle America, desperate to move to Chicago, joins the volleyball team to get a scholarship – the only catch is that his high school only has a girls team.

“Director Nathan Adloff, along with writing partner Justin D.M. Palmer (both of u0026quot;Nate and Margarettu0026quot; – 2012), present an enjoyable summer teen flick. Happy go lucky Miles (terrific relative newcomer Tim Boardman – u0026quot;Wilde Wedding 2017) is coming to grips with his sexuality, while surviving a home where dad (Stephen Root – u0026quot;Office Spaceu0026quot; 1999) is estranged, and mom (Molly Shannon – TVu0026#39;s – u0026quot;Divorceu0026quot;) is complacent. When dad leaves the family broke, Miles joins the HS girls volleyball team in hopes of obtaining a scholarship to college, and mom begins to live. Along with Root and Shannon, the film is filled with additional familiar character actors, including Miss Pyle (u0026quot;Gone Girl), Paul Reiser (TVu0026#39;s u0026quot;Divorceu0026quot;), Ethan Phillips (TVu0026#39;s u0026quot;Girlsu0026quot;), Yeardley Smith (u0026quot;The Simpsons) and Anie Golden (u0026quot;Orange Is the New Blacku0026quot;). Unforuntately, when a film is filled with so many established comedy character actors, it usually means trouble. Lucky, are all in good hands here with Adloff and Palmer, who have given each (through good writing and a sound storyline) an opportunity to present their dramatic acting chops. Every summer, a good youth film comes along to remind us that somehow we all make it through it, and MILES fits that bill perfectly.”