Charlie Bartlett: and a half
You know how in Juno how Juno told Paulie that he was so cool with out trying? And then Paulie told her that he actually tries really hard to be cool. Well the magic with that character Paulie that if he was truly trying hard to be cool that he wasn't showing it. And that should have been what all other teen movies strive to be like. But the title character in Charlie Bartlett tries too hard to be cool. And that is one o the downfalls that affected this film.
Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin) has just gotten kicked out of another private school. This time for making fake IDs. His depressed, but willful mother (Hope Davis) who's husband in in jail for tax evasion decides to enroll Charlie in a public school now to see if that helps him. The principal is Nathan Gardner (Robert Downey Jr) who is a new principal who is struggling to gain any respect.
At first Charlie does not fit in well with the other kids. And gets beat up by Murphy Bivens (Tyler Hilton). He does see a girl that he likes though. Her name is Susan (Kat Dennings). But he is currently such a loser that he can't imagine asking her out. After seeing a psychiatrist he gets Ritalin. He takes more of a dose one night per to his psychiatrist's instructions and gets really high off of them. I will admit those scenes were funny.
Then the police shows up after he makes an ass out of himself, the police officer and his mother begin to talk about how teens do these drugs to get high. The idea strikes into his head to sell these drugs. He decides to strike up a partnership with Murphy and sell these drugs. Charlie obtains other drugs such as xanx by faking other symptoms.
This has made him the most popular kid in school. And he begins to give people advice after Kip Crombell (Mark Rendall) a depressed kid comes to him asking for drugs. He actually starts to make a difference and becomes more than just a drug dealer. He and Susan even have sex and become boyfriend and girlfriend. But at the same time he has friction with principal Nathan who just happens to be Susan's father.
Charlie Bartlett is not a bad movie. Maybe if I were in a funnier mood I might have liked it. But I couldn't bring myself to like it. It is probably because I have seen films in the teenage genre so much better than this. And the talent is squandered so much in this movie. Kat Dennings is an attractive and very talented actress. But her character isn't given enough of a chance to really shine. Robert Downey Jr could be the best actor of this generation. He gives a great performance. But his character could have had more juicer scenes.
I think if they had gone and made this movie a satire kind of like the Assassination of a high school president, the movie might have been better. It would have been an interesting look at high school, been easier to laugh with, and probably far more entertaining. Even if they had gone the American Pie route it probably would have been better. It would have made us feel ad care about Charlie more. Instead I don't care about him and see him just trying to be cool.
I mentioned Juno at the start of this review. That is a great movie and a great example of what teen movies can be with great detail. Charlie Bartlett is far from the worst teen movie. But it is a step backwards. It could have been better with a few adjustments. But instead falls short.
You know how in Juno how Juno told Paulie that he was so cool with out trying? And then Paulie told her that he actually tries really hard to be cool. Well the magic with that character Paulie that if he was truly trying hard to be cool that he wasn't showing it. And that should have been what all other teen movies strive to be like. But the title character in Charlie Bartlett tries too hard to be cool. And that is one o the downfalls that affected this film.
Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin) has just gotten kicked out of another private school. This time for making fake IDs. His depressed, but willful mother (Hope Davis) who's husband in in jail for tax evasion decides to enroll Charlie in a public school now to see if that helps him. The principal is Nathan Gardner (Robert Downey Jr) who is a new principal who is struggling to gain any respect.
At first Charlie does not fit in well with the other kids. And gets beat up by Murphy Bivens (Tyler Hilton). He does see a girl that he likes though. Her name is Susan (Kat Dennings). But he is currently such a loser that he can't imagine asking her out. After seeing a psychiatrist he gets Ritalin. He takes more of a dose one night per to his psychiatrist's instructions and gets really high off of them. I will admit those scenes were funny.
Then the police shows up after he makes an ass out of himself, the police officer and his mother begin to talk about how teens do these drugs to get high. The idea strikes into his head to sell these drugs. He decides to strike up a partnership with Murphy and sell these drugs. Charlie obtains other drugs such as xanx by faking other symptoms.
This has made him the most popular kid in school. And he begins to give people advice after Kip Crombell (Mark Rendall) a depressed kid comes to him asking for drugs. He actually starts to make a difference and becomes more than just a drug dealer. He and Susan even have sex and become boyfriend and girlfriend. But at the same time he has friction with principal Nathan who just happens to be Susan's father.
Charlie Bartlett is not a bad movie. Maybe if I were in a funnier mood I might have liked it. But I couldn't bring myself to like it. It is probably because I have seen films in the teenage genre so much better than this. And the talent is squandered so much in this movie. Kat Dennings is an attractive and very talented actress. But her character isn't given enough of a chance to really shine. Robert Downey Jr could be the best actor of this generation. He gives a great performance. But his character could have had more juicer scenes.
I think if they had gone and made this movie a satire kind of like the Assassination of a high school president, the movie might have been better. It would have been an interesting look at high school, been easier to laugh with, and probably far more entertaining. Even if they had gone the American Pie route it probably would have been better. It would have made us feel ad care about Charlie more. Instead I don't care about him and see him just trying to be cool.
I mentioned Juno at the start of this review. That is a great movie and a great example of what teen movies can be with great detail. Charlie Bartlett is far from the worst teen movie. But it is a step backwards. It could have been better with a few adjustments. But instead falls short.
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Going 18600 miles per second.
Going 18600 miles per second.