Ashby (2015)

Ashby is the kind of offbeat coming-of-age story that sneaks up on you: funny and oddly sweet, with a lived-in sadness underneath that gives its laughs real weight. Mickey Rourke brings a bruised, unpredictable warmth to the mysterious neighbor at the center of it all, while Nat Wolff and Emma Roberts keep the teen side grounded in awkward charm and genuine feeling rather than sitcom beats. The movie’s vibe is breezy and bouncy even when it flirts with darker material, more interested in the strange comfort of unlikely friendship than in turning its premise into a grim thriller. It’s not for everyone—there’s violence, harsh language, and some crass teen behavior—but if you like character-driven dramedies that balance heart, humor, and a little danger, this one earns your time.

Ashby is clearly trying to be a quirky coming-of-age dramedy with a dark, oddball mentor figure, mixing teen romance with a “retired assassin facing death” twist. The problem is the movie can’t decide what it wants to be: heartfelt and bittersweet one minute, then suddenly edgy or cartoonish the next, which makes the emotional beats feel unearned. Mickey Rourke brings a weathered presence and there are a few genuinely sweet moments between the characters, but the tone-juggling and familiar plot pieces can make the whole thing feel scattered and forgettable. If you’re hoping for a consistent teen romance, a grounded drama, or a sharp comedy, this may test your patience—but if you’re fine with a messy genre mash-up and like offbeat actor pairings, you might get mild enjoyment out of it.