Boys State is a thoroughly depressing portrait of American teen masculinity, Texas politics, and the overall state of democracy. Directors Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss drop in on an annual, American Legion-sponsored conference where some 1,000 male teenagers gather for a week to be divided into two political parties and stage a mock gubernatorial election. One of the subjects—Steven Garza, the progressive son of Mexican immigrants who runs a surprisingly successful campaign based on a thoughtful exchange of ideas—is supposed to be the beacon of hope here, but his story is overwhelmed by the juvenile, narrow-minded machismo that otherwise defines the proceedings. And I don’t say that to judge the kids, as they’re only mimicking what they’ve seen at home and from actual politicians, not to mention simply acting their age. Along with more formal ingenuity, Boys State would have benefitted from getting to know these more troubling figures a bit more—how they came to believe what they do, what makes them distinct (and maybe even valuable) as human beings. As it is, the movie sits back and lets them hang themselves, as if they were Borat targets.
