Thirteen-year-old Stevie lives in a poor district of Los Angeles. His older brother bullies him and his single mother has no time for him. He finds an escape from the bleak situation on a skateboard with a group of his peers. The film draws from the aesthetics and atmosphere of the 1990s, 16mm material, and a pumped-up soundtrack. This directing and screenwriting debut by actor Jonah Hill (22 Jump Street, The Wolf of Wall Street) has been praised by numerous film critics.