The well-crafted script feels real and honest, but the solid acting throughout elevates Lymelife above your average indie coming-of-age drama. The Culkin brothers bring their real-life brotherly dynamic to their roles, and their interactions -- Jimmy's minor bullying of Scott, even as he defends him from anyone else who would dare to mess with him, the looks across the dinner table as they struggle to find the right things to say when Brenda's fragile and upset, ring true at every turn; one of the film's best visual moments is the framing of the amused smirk of an older brother as his kid brother pukes after drinking too much for the first time in the background, while Brenda comforts Scott, thinking it's just a stomach bug.

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