THE OTHER F WORD, COMING-OF-AGE & WHY WE HAVE ALL THE FEELS ABOUT IT

Whenever it comes to TV & movies, I definitely have a knack for being ‘that guy’ who’s late to the party.

I mean, you keep up with your favorites & have a finger on the pulse of what’s new. Though with the ‘80s hair-level volume of content being produced nowadays – who POSSIBLY has time to hit it all?!

But that aside, the crazy thing is always when you’ve heard of something & KNOW you’re going to be all about it. Yet, it still (for whatever reason) can take you awhile to actually get around to it.

My most recent case in point: The Other F Word.

It’s also currently available on Hulu!

You’ve probably heard of or seen it by now because see above: always late to the party. BUT for those who may not be so familiar, The Other F Word is a documentary that debuted in 2011, highlighting a mind-blowing variety of punk-rock icons-turned-fathers who share their ultimate truth about what it’s like to now be the authority they built a career raging against.

And yes – it is absolutely everything you want it to be. Equal parts hilarious as it is heart-wrenching, might I add.

From the hysterical accounts of Mark Hoppus & Fat Mike, to the heart-breaking tales of Duane Peters & Art Alexakis, let me just stress that you WILL feel all of the feels. As I still am about five solid weeks later.

But you know, that’s what’s so incredible about it. 

It’s no accident why coming-of-age has always been one of the most interesting (and hard-hitting) themes to a lot people since forever. Mainly because that long-awaited juncture where you officially cross over from youth into adulthood? It doesn’t really exist. At least, not in one fell swoop moment.

It just happens. For some, in a way that feels normal and manageably gradual. And for others, it hits like a ton of bricks.

Just like the film’s flagship anthem, Against Me!’s “I Was A Teenage Anarchist”. Which – fast forward to the other night when we got to catch the second half of their two-night concert series rocking out White Crosses and Transgender Dysphoria Blues in their entireties – of course they played. And once again, I cried. Kevin cried. The crowd cried! Because that’s what all of these feels still cause today. Just like they did when we were 16. Just like they will when we’re 60.

And just like they did when we were watching The Other F Word. All in the best way possible.

So the next time you’re in the market for something that can both uplift and pierce your soul at the stunningly same time, look no further than this hugely underrated, absolute gem of a doc. 

Just be sure to keep the tissues close by.

xxAA

Elements of feature image from Amazon

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