A Kid Like Jake

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A Kid Like Jake

R

Released Jun 1, 2018

1h 32m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

52%

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50 Reviews

46%

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100+ Ratings

Alex Wheeler and her husband, Greg, are trying to find the right primary school for their 4-year-old son, Jake. Described as gender-expansive by his adviser, Jake's increasingly erratic behavior starts to cause a rift between the couple. Alex worries that the adults in her son's life are labeling him prematurely, while Greg wonders if Jake's fondness for dressing up might be more than just a phase.

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Critics Consensus

A Kid Like Jake poses some truly interesting possibilities -- many of which are lost in its overly cautious approach to an admittedly sensitive subject.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Danes gives it her very considerable best, but there is something weirdly inhibited about this movie.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 2, 2020

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Robert Daniels

812filmreviews

It's a demonstration of a parent's most innate instinct: to protect their child, while also intimating that love and understanding is the ultimate protection.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 27, 2018

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J.R. Kinnard

Seattle Times

It's a daring premise, which makes Howard's fluffy approach to the material all the more frustrating.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 27, 2018

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Brian T. Carney

Washington Blade

Despite some weaknesses in the script, Howard and his cast create a moving family drama that is a must-see, especially for LGBT audiences.

Dec 8, 2022

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M.N. Miller

Ready Steady Cut

Claire Danes is a revelation, playing a character that flips the script on gender-based parenting norms. Her character is abrasive, annoying, even abusive, as she deals with the anxiety of not knowing how to raise her child.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 17, 2022

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Matt Cipolla

Film Monthly

A Kid Like Jake is a necessary movie in theory, but that doesn't mean it works or feels entirely authentic.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jul 24, 2020

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Audience Member

This movie doesn't really seem to have anything to say. It was sort of interesting, but did not reach its potential.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Audience Member

Jim Parsons seems miscast but for most of the runtime this story of new parents dealing with a complex issue is absorbing yet the resolution to the character's rifts between each other is resolved with an overly convenient and deflating ending.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I think this was a really poor display of a child with gender exploration. It felt forced and had really no resolution. It felt as though they were scrambling to find something interesting about the subject matter when truly there were so many more intriguing paths it could have taken.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Audience Member

Agreeably too cautious of an approach as part of the two-fold lingering conflict underlining the sensitive topic that deserves better discussion, but nonetheless still well-represented in a valued insight by the terrific performances' convincing realism that briefly makes you forget you're watching a film. (B)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

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Audience Member

Love Priyanka Chopra!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/25/20

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Audience Member

Very slow developing and sub-par acting.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

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Silas Howard

Director

Claire Danes

Alex

Jim Parsons

Greg

Octavia Spencer

Judy

Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Amal

Ann Dowd

Catherine

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A Kid Like Jake: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Alex Wheeler and her husband, Greg, are trying to find the right primary school for their 4-year-old son, Jake. Described as gender-expansive by his adviser, Jake's increasingly erratic behavior starts to cause a rift between the couple. Alex worries that the adults in her son's life are labeling him prematurely, while Greg wonders if Jake's fondness for dressing up might be more than just a phase.

Director: Silas Howard
Producer: Jim Parsons, Todd Spiewak, Eric Norsoph
Screenwriter: Daniel Pearle
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: IFC Films, Double Nickel Entertainment
Rating: R (Some Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 1, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 5, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $44.8K
Runtime: 1h 32m

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