Rating of
3/4
Quirky, Funny
Franz Patrick - wrote on 05/21/08
I knew I was going to enjoy this film prior to seeing it but I was surprised when the second half came along because it had so much heart. Anton Yelchin never disappoints and I have never seen him act crazier. I loved it when he would bust out into songs or jump around for no obvious reason; of course those are his brighter moments. In the second half, we see him with these puppy-dog eyes and fragile voice when circumstances shift to the heavier side. I'm glad that Yelchin had fun with it. Robert Downey Jr. cracked me up. He was perfect as this alcoholic, broken down principal. He did have his scary-random moments but I believed him nonetheless. Hope Davis is equally funny as a mother who treats her child like an adult when he shouldn't be. In a way, she reminded me of my parents, which I think contributed to why I think she was so funny. As for the story, I'll admit that it's one of those indie movies that try to be original when it's not THAT fresh. I did like that the filmmakers took the lighter route when it comes to tackling the issue about drugs in school. But what did not work for me was the romance between Bartlett and the principal's daughter. It kind of felt forced in order to add more drama to the story when they've already got so much in their hands. Instead, I would have liked to know more about Bartlett's father and why their relationship is so rocky. For me, it's the acting that saved this movie from borderline mediocrity. If they were not so quirky as they were here, I would have liked it a lot less. I would recommend this to anyone who is into independent teen angst films.
