Genre: Comedy/Drama
Director: Jim Jarmusch
Writer: Jacob Jones
Cast: Alex Wolff, Nat Wolff, Jack Black, Maude Apatow, Meg Donnelly, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Wesley Snipes
Plot: Inside a small cafe in Seattle, Washington, a girl with blonde hair sits beside her friend. Clarissa (Maude Apatow) looks at her phone while Kate (Meg Donnelly) sips some of her frappucino before asking Clarissa where Matt (Alex Wolff) is. Clarissa says that she just texted him, saying that he’ll be there in a few moments. Kate hopes so as her frappe is almost gone.
All of a sudden the door bursts open and in walks Matt. He spots the girls not far by him, walking towards them. Kate begins to head up to the counter to order something, asking what the others want. Matt requests a ‘Flat White’, a ristretto espresso with micro-foam milk, or as he calls it ‘the edible version of milk’. Kate rolls her eyes, focusing her attention to Clarissa only to find her listening to something on her phone.
Clarissa tells Kate that she’s listening to the new Ariana Grande song. Matt shudders upon hearing her name, holding himself back from going on a rant about ‘mainstream music’. Kate hears him muttering under his breath and asks him what’s so bad about Ariana Grande. Matt crosses his arms, saying that he just doesn’t like her. “Or any other major pop star out there.” Kate quips. She proves this theory by listing off several pop stars, watching as he reacts in disgust.
Trying to restrain herself from laughing, Clarissa tells Kate that she wants a latte with marshmallows floating on it. Kate heads off to get the drinks, leaving Clarissa and Matt to themselves. Looking around the cafeteria, he glances at Matt sitting silently and asks if he wants to go to the Carly Jae Repsen concert next week. Matt stares at her incredulously, telling her that she wouldn’t go anywhere near these ‘corporate, soulless’ musicians even if they were the last people on Earth.
Clarissa frowns, trying to urge Matt that Carly and Ariana are good musicians. Matt refuses to budge, saying that all pop singers are unoriginal, have generic lyrics, and have computers who make their voices ‘fake’ and ‘perfect’. Kate returns with their drinks, seeing the argument ongoing. Wanting to cause some mischief, Kate teases Matt by calling him a ‘hipster’. Matt vehemently denies it and the two go around in circles for a few seconds before Matt storms off in anger.
Upon returning home, Matt enters his room, flopping onto his bed in defeat. The door opens, revealing his older brother Marty (Nat Wolff). He comes up to Matt, sitting on the bed and asking what happened. Matt then vents to his brother about how Clarissa is a ‘trend-chaser’ who only loves style over substance. After a few moments of vague ranting, Marty asks if he got into another argument with Kate and Clarissa about music. Matt sighs in defeat, confirming his suspicions.
Disappointed, Marty tells Matt that he’s got to stop being so confrontational with other people about popular media. Matt shakes his head, saying that he’s sick and tired of people trying to ‘force’ him to like the things he doesn’t and wants a change. The only problem is that he has no idea what he can do. Marty pats him on the back, telling him that he’ll think of something before leaving him on his own.
That evening, Matt watches some videos on YouTube, trying to find some inspiration when he comes across an interview on musician Dave Aiken (Johnathan Rhys Meyer), a man who made his ambivalence on modern music felt and decided to do something about it, creating his own band called ‘Ion’. As Matt listens to how Dave catered to a ‘disgruntled generation’, he slowly begins to grow an idea in his head. The next day during breakfast, Matt pitches the idea of Marty and him starting a band.
Marty spits out his juice before exasperatedly telling Matt that he has no idea how to play an instrument. Matt tells him that he doesn’t have to, saying he could be a singer, goading him to sing him something. Despite his nerves, he sings a solid rendition of the Itsy Bitsy Spider. Convinced of this idea, Matt excitedly tells Marty that he’s already ordered a guitar and drums for them and has picked out the name, calling this new band ‘The Culture’.
Four to six days pass and by then, Marty and Matt have already created their band logo. Suddenly, Matt hears the door knocking and walks up to it, opening it and finding their packages. To the surprise of both, there are two guitars instead of one. Matt realizes that he accidentally bought two guitars instead of one, both from the same brand. Seeing how frustrated Matt is, Marty suggests that they audition someone to join them.
Matt is against the idea, saying that it might ‘destroy the sanctity’ of the band so as a compromise, Marty suggests that they try and get their dad Alan (Jack Black) involved, explaining that he was once a guitarist in a band. Later the day, in the cities of San Francisco, California, Alan sits on his rocking chair when the phone rings. He picks up, finding that his son is calling. Matt tries his best to tell his dad but struggles to find the words, forcing Marty to tell him for Matt. Alan enthusiastically accepts the proposal.
The next day, Alan greets Matt by giving him a freakishly strong bearhug when Marty hands him the second guitar. Afterwards, the three have their first jam session together, finding that they mesh well together despite the obvious inexperience. For the next few weeks, the three learn several songs from obscure bands, slowly growing their skills as musicians and finding their chemistry together (Alan especially fitting in well as back-up vocals and bass guitar). Finally, the three decide that they are ready to hold their first concert, finding a venue in a small bar in downtown Seattle.
The day of the first concert arrives and Marty looks out into the crowd, shocked to find a packed house. Matt tells him to get ready as the concert is about to begin. A few minutes later, The Culture are introduced to the world as an excited crowd watches on. The band begins to play the first song, only for Marty to completely blank out, petrified at the number of people in the group. Seeing the crowd start to turn on them, Alan jumps in on vocals, nailing the song and saving the show.
After the concert, an exhilarated Matt tells the others that they killed it out there, especially Alan who immediately is promoted to lead singer (fulfilling a lifelong dream he had). As the band begin to head out, Dave comes up to the band, having stopped by town for a visit and tells them that they did a great job out there. Matt and Dave talk for a bit and he learns that this is the bar that he got his start in. Dave then makes Matt the offer to come to Chicago to be the opening act of his concert. Floored at first, he accepts the offer and vigorously shakes Dave’s hand
The next day, Clarissa goes off in excitement over The Culture’s success while Kate admits that Matt knows what he’s doing. During this time, the band hires an agent named Burton (Wesley Snipes). After taking their plane ride to Chicago, The Culture meet Dave by the hotel. Before they can even get themselves situated, the group is swarmed by paparazzi. Led by Dave, The Culture flee the press and enter their room wondering what just happened.
During the next few days, it becomes clear that The Culture is not used to the lifestyle of musicians with many candid and awkward moments becoming talking points, including Burton’s obscenity-laced tirade to the press when they try to take snapshots of Matt while he’s going to the bathroom. The final straw is an awful rehearsal for The Culture where all parties are off-sync and getting on their last nerves. That night, Dave goes up to security and venue personnel and tells them to cut them from the show.
The next evening, Matt comes up to Alan and Marty backstage, apologizing for being on edge for much of the time there, and promises to be at his best tonight. Alan and Marty apologize back, both admitting to being nervous as well. The three prepare to go on only for the announcer to completely bypass them and introduce Dave.
Outraged, Matt storms onto the stage just before Dave can start his set and angrily asks him what is going on. Dave tries to damage control but after much persistence from Matt, he snaps at him, revealing that he pulled them. He then goes on a monologue saying that Matt had only heard the first half of his story. After time had passed, he had signed a deal to a major recording studio and slowly, he softened his stance on other musicians. Once he did that, he found more success than ever. Sadly, Dave doesn’t believe The Culture is ready for the spotlight.
Furious, Matt lunges after him only to be held back by security. Seeing his boss in trouble, Burton rushes into the scene and begins to fight the officers. After chasing them away, Burton accidentally knocks Dave out cold, sending The Culture to jail. Despondent, Matt believes that this is the end of The Culture. Marty tries to be positive, but Matt asks who would want to book a band that had been arrested for ruining another musician’s concert.
The group sits in silence when a police officer walks by their cell, telling them that they’re being let go. She takes off the disguise, revealing herself to be Kate, having been tasked to bust them out. Remaining quiet, Kate leads The Culture out of jail and to the nearest airport. Upon seeing Matt, Clarissa gets out her phone, revealing that Matt and Dave’s confrontation made it onto national news. To everyone’s shock, not only have people taken their side, they have become insanely popular on the internet.
The Culture becomes the talk of town upon returning home and Matt gets calls from local venues all over to discuss concert arrangements. Each time they do, the crowds grow larger and larger. As time passes, The Culture come out with their first album detailing some of their best hits, only making them even more popular. At the end of one concert, Marty and Alan head out of the venue, waving to their adoring fans. Matt tags behind them, faking a smile in the process.
When he gets home, Matt lies on his bed and stares at the ceiling, wondering if this was what was supposed to happen. Outside, Marty makes a call to someone, keeping a close eye to make sure Matt and Alan aren’t around.
The next day, Matt wakes up to find that Kate is now their new agent (with Burton now taking the role of head of security) and that Clarissa has joined the band as their keyboardist. Coiling in horror, he excuses himself into his bedroom and screams into a pillow. Despite this, Marty and Alan accept Clarissa and Kate as part of the band (especially as Kate says she’s taking a course in finances). From there, per request of Clarissa, The Culture begins to do covers of more mainstream songs, garnering them even more popularity but alienating those who fear they have sold out. As this happens, Matt and Clarissa begin to swap personalities with both acting more like the opposite person.
The breaking point arrives one night before a concert inside a local bar when Matt arrives twenty minutes late for the final rehearsal, claiming that he had to do some ‘thinking’. From there, it becomes clear that Matt is completely off-sync with the rest of the band as they prepare their opening number. After several failed takes, Matt snaps, throwing down his guitar and smashing it to pieces. He storms outside while Marty, Burton and Alan follow suit.
After seeing them, Matt declares that he can’t take it anymore. This was supposed to be his statement against popular music and mainstream culture and now, they’ve completely assimilated with them. He then hears Kate’s voice, spotting her with Clarissa. With Burton separating the two, Matt eviscerates Clarissa, saying that everything was fine until she got onto the band. Clarissa denies this, claiming that she just had ‘better ideas’ than Matt. The argument continues until Matt screams that he hates her. Crushed by the remarks, Clarissa runs away, Kate following suit. The concert is then cancelled.
As the blowup garners media attention, Matt holds an emergency meeting with Marty, Burton and Alan. He wholeheartedly apologizes for his part and admits that he can’t deal with the pressure anymore. The four agree to break up the band with Burton decreeing that if you love something, you let it die before it jumps the shark. Before Alan leaves, he looks at Matt with a grateful expression and thanks Matt for letting him live his dream before walking out of the house. Later that day, Matt confirms the breakup to the press.
As news media reports on The Culture’s demise, The disappearance of Clarissa is reported alongside it. Matt sits on his bed, sadly looking at his damaged guitar when the door opens. Worried for his mental stability, Marty pleads for Matt to talk to him. After a few moments, Matt finally speaks, telling Marty that he only started the band just so he could stick it to Clarissa and people who like ‘popular’ music. He didn’t expect things to play out the way that they did. And now, because of him, Clarissa is missing.
Marty looks at his brother with a guilty expression before admitting that he was the one that contacted her to join the band. When asked why, Marty explains that he was worried about how reclusive he was becoming, especially with all the notoriety the band was getting. The two agree to never speak of this again...
That is until Matt hears a ping from his phone. He picks it up, finding an angry text from Kate. Matt opens it and learns that Kate has found Clarissa. Not only that, she is performing somewhere later tonight. The final message Matt reads is Kate threatening to kill him. Sensing an opportunity, Marty decides to call Kate, telling her to come to their house so they can try and track down Clarissa.. When Kate arrives at their house, she explains that Clarissa is at a cafe far away. Sadly, Clarissa didn’t give her directions and to make matters worse, they have only fifteen minutes to make it to the concert.
What follows is a wild car chase as Kate hastily drives past several other cars and people. It looks like they’re keeping pace when all of a sudden, Kate slams the breaks on her car, entering a traffic jam and ramming her car into another’s bumper. Seeing the angry driver storming towards them, Kate gets out and decks him with a punch, giving Matt and Marty an opening to run past all the other cars and maneuver their way out of the traffic jam.
Eventually, Matt spots a cafe with a sign saying ‘Clarissa Live!’ on the window. There, they find Alan and Burton standing by. He tells them that the concert had sold out. Not only that, he had bought the last ticket, just to support Clarissa. He then says that things are not looking good for her and that she needs them more than ever. When Marty asks how they’re going to get him, however, Burton gives him a cheeky smirk, declaring that sometimes, it pays to be an agent and lets them enter with him playing watchguard.
As the group silently enters, Kate is the first to spot Clarissa wearing hipster-influenced clothing, failing to get through Vance Joy’s Take Your Time. Seeing the tears in her eyes, Matt steps up to the stage, singing part of the song with her. Despite Clarissa’s confusion, Matt assures her that he’ll explain later and invites the rest of the band up onstage. From there, Matt and Clarissa lead a duet, ending with them getting a standing ovation.
Backstage, Matt pulls Clarissa aside, asking her what she’s doing wearing these clothes. Clarissa admits that being around him changed her. She started to see music in a different light and began to shun the things she once held dear, all to please him. Stunned at the revelation, Matt composes himself before giving a heartfelt apology. He knows the two don’t agree on a lot, but she didn’t have to change herself to impress him. If anything, he was the one that needed to change. Touched by his apology, Clarissa hugs Matt and does away with the hipster clothes.
For the next few days, Matt and Clarissa begin listening to other genres of music, expanding their horizons and finding surprising gems. The thing that really surprises them however is how Clarissa hates one song from Nat and Alex Wolff while Matt likes it. The two laugh at this revelation, enjoying their newfound friendship.
One month later:
Inside the same bar that started everything, Matt sits at a chair backstage when Burton comes up to him, asking if he’s ready for this. Matt confidently tells him that he was born ready and joins the rest of the band. The Culture walk onto the stage receiving a warm ovation as Matt gives a brief speech about how it’s okay to evolve and grow your interests, even if you may not always like what you see or hear. The Culture was once supposed to condemn the ‘status quo', but now he sees that there isn’t one true form of music. Every genre has its own defined personality, style, and culture. And that’s what they want to showcase. The concert then begins in earnest as all enjoy an incredible night of music, fun, and friendship.
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