This weekend, I saw Charlie Bartlett, the new tough to categorize movie starring Robert Downey Jr. and Anton Yelchin (arguably best known at this point for a role in a movie that won't even be out for a year yet -- as Chekov in the new Star Trek film).I say tough to categorize because it's kind of a teen comedy, but at times a bit more adult, and generally with less raunch and more heart than most movies in the genre seem to have. My friend called it "Ferris Bueller's Day Off meets Juno," and I'd say that hits pretty close to the mark in tone, if not in quality.
Not that it's a bad film. It's rather enjoyable, overall. Though the main character is a rich "trust fund kid," he's developed in a fully-rounded way, quite sympathetic and fun to watch. The movie has a good deal of wit, and several very true moments. Many of them involve Robert Downey Jr's character struggling with alcoholism and unhappiness, and you can't help but feel some real life experience informed the performance.
Another great moment is the most hysterical depiction of what it is to be high on Ritalin you don't actually need that I imagine could ever be presented in any medium.
But every once in a while, the film veers off course just a touch. There are times when the sweetness turns a bit saccharine. There are other times where the handling of the "kids are more than their sterotypes" message comes off more awkwardly forced than others.
Still, there are good intentions behind it all. The movie is quite funny, delivering plenty of laughs. And in the end, it paints a great picture of a teenager finding out what he wants to do with his life. I rate the movie a B-.
No comments:
Post a Comment