Reality Bites

The movie was pretty lackluster, with a weak plot that failed to capture my interest. However, the absolute low point was the kids. They were the archetype of that gross, rebellious "I'm not gonna conform to the system, man" persona. The only character I liked was Ben Stiller's character because he didn’t have that quality and didnt say corny shh like the other.

Definitely dated, this Gen. X film focuses on disillusionment and a love triangle between rebel Ethan Hawke, yuppie Ben Stiller and former valedictorian turned fast food worker Winona Ryder. I'm 56 (Gen. X) and I loved it.

Very much a dated movie about the early 90's culture. But it's one of my favorites because of Winona Ryder. Who carries the movie.

An entertaining slice of early 90’s American pop culture which serves as a nostalgic fix for aging Gen-Xers

Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke are thoroughly engaging, and although the 90s sensibilities may seem a bit outdated now, this was a worthy first effort by Ben Stiller to capture the times. Nostalgic soundtrack.

Or "F*R*I*E*N*D*S the Movie"; this cutesy, cloying, Gen X Rom/Com, brought to us by Ben Stiller and the Producer of The Big Chill himself, Sheldon Pinchuk, isn't half as clever as it thinks it is...(It's like FORMULA REBELLION...Repackaged for the mainstream masses)...And it follows the very standard misadventures of young Lelaina Pierce; played by a beautiful Winona Ryder; who was just Valedictorian of her class; and a recent grad...Who only JUST NOW realizes that REAL LIFE and THE JOB MARKET aren't exactly the way she thought it would be...And so this is all watchable but predictable and unoriginal, as you might expect..The most annoying part being Ethan Hawke suddenly breaking out into song during the climax; and being dubbed by all the Cassidy brothers or something. So overall.."Reality" Doesn't Bite; but it doesn't ROCK either..

Ben Stiller's intensely 90s, coming-of-age dramedy is a unique gem. Written with excellent dialogue and perfectly casted, Reality Bites takes you on a journey of relational growth and personal understanding. Stiller's direction of every performance is very impressive and the film's balance of highs and lows is beautifully executed. Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke deliver wonderful performances alongside Zahn, Garofalo, and Stiller. Charming and poignant, this film does well what so many other post-high-school/post-college films try desperately to accomplish. It tells the story of friends and self-reflection with realistic interactions, raw honesty, and maybe a laugh or two.

A surprising well made film by Ben Stiller, that perfectly captures the cynicism of the 1990s. Reality Bites is a great time, that feels like Richard Linklater's SubUrbia made by a normal director

It definitely got it right that the reality in this, jobs, careers, dentists, etc. does indeed suck.

It's not unreasonable to think that as we grow and change as human beings, our tastes and appreciation for the arts may change as well. I had seen bits and pieces of this movie back in the 90s after it first came out and remember liking what I saw. It didn't necessarily wow me, but I felt an affinity toward the characters and their post-college plights. Watching it now as I come close to 50, it took every bit of self-control not to turn it off after 20 minutes. I see now how self-involved, materialistic, and repugnant these characters are - and I suppose, in a way, that's the point. But golly gee, being around them for 90 or so minutes is a chore. The screenplay is often overly clever and impressed with itself, using catch phrases and social media references that reminded me a bit of JUNO. Thankfully, the cast is full of talented actors who manage to find moments of depth even when the dialogue is a bit cringy. I especially appreciated the tempestuous relationship between Ryder and Hawke - there is serious sexual tension between them. As usual with these types of films, none of the adults are three-dimensional characters, and their scenes add nothing to the whole. Who knows - maybe in another 20 year or so I'll be a little more forgiving. I know this movie has a strong fan base, and I can see why, but for me, I couldn't get past the sheer annoyance of pretty much everyone on screen.