Charlie Bartlett Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
Popularity is a state of mind.
When Charlie Bartlett listens everyone talks.
First come. First cured.
people like *you* ARE THE REASON people like *me* NEED MEDICATION
Wealthy teenager Charlie Bartlett is failing miserably at fitting in at a new public high school run by the world-weary Principal Gardner. As he begins to better understand the social hierarchy, Charlie's honest charm and likability positions him as the resident "psychiatrist" dishing out advice, and the occasional prescription with his partner and fellow student, Murphy Bivens, to other students in need. Along the way, he decides to take some of his own advice, find romance, and learn to accept who he is, thus wielding a witty dark comedy about the angst-filled years before college.
| Anton Yelchin | Charlie Bartlett |
| Robert Downey Jr. | Principal Gardner |
| Tyler Hilton | Murphey Bivens |
| Mark Rendall | Kip Crombwell |
| Dylan Taylor | Len Arbuckle |
| Jake Epstein | Dustin Lauderbach |
| Jonathan Malen | Jordan Sunder |
| Derek McGrath | Superintendent Sedgwick |
| Stephen Young | Dr. Stan Weathers |
| Ishan Davé | Henry Freemont |
| David Brown | Officer Hansen |
| Eric Fink | Thomas |
| Noam Jenkins | Dean West |
| Aubrey Graham | A/V Jones |
| Michael D'Ascenzo | Scott |
7.50 out of 10 (4075 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Is this film too cool for the room?
posted on 12 Aug 2009There are powerful reminders of older, better films in "Charlie Bartlett". It harks back to the 80s' teenage ennui and the 90s' ensuing hipster cynicism, with its hands digging deep into the Wes Anderson/John Hughes/Alexander Payne playbook and is as artificially constructed as the temporary highs its adolescents gets from prescription panaceas. Fresh and quirky is the promise that fails to deliver in Jon Poll's derivative directorial debut, a snarky and marginally clever film that already seems to be a legend in its own mind.It's all about the tone when it comes to a film that unevenly straddles the lines between an incisive teen comedy on contemporary mores and social critiques or whether it starts to extend a warm-hearted humanism that glibly presents itself as group therapy for a culturally induced Prozac Nation. Preppy Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin), the titular attention-seeking mandarin, an obnoxious blowhard by way of Holden Caulfield who repugnantly deals in ironic rejoinders and self-conscious quips is oddly, our protagonist. It looks like young Byrd Huffstod's grown up to be a bit of a self-satisfied prick.Yelchin has always been an immensely likable actor, whose strength has always traditionally belonged in his unassuming, wide-eyed view of the world, delivered with soft-spoken optimism and an underlying kindness. But in "Charlie Bartlett", Yelchin becomes the smarmy anti-thesis of what sustains his charms, and while not begrudging his change of direction, the dissonance here is staggering.Charlie, or Dr. Charlie as he becomes known in the hallways of his new public school after being kicked out of yet another private institution, the prestigious Castlewood School, is a budding entrepreneur butting heads with his nemesis, Principal Nathan Gardner (Robert Downey Jr.) for influence over the school's student body and in particular, the sunshiny Goth chick Susan (Kat Dennings) who happens to be the Principal's daughter. Charlie sets up stall, literally, in the boy's bathroom and starts to dole out advice and more importantly, selling prescription poppers (Ritalin, Xanax, Zoloft etc.) to harried teenagers and disconnected kids. Poll's enthrallment with the baby-faced Charlie's superiority complex enters dangerously reckless and self-involved terrain – he implicitly posits that the mini-Doc isn't doing something any more wrong that what drug-enabling medical businesses around the country are already doing when Charlie hoards his stash by feigning symptoms to various psychiatrists who are only too glad to ply him with more drugs. By prioritising its social commentary before the actions of Charlie, Poll betrays his story and his characters quite conclusively.Is "Charlie Bartlett" just too cool for the room? All signs point to yes, for the most part. The film's perverse, albeit cheap thrill of the blind leading the blind, and its inherently inhuman condescension of dysfunction goes the way of smug caricature. But despite the disingenuous diversions that pockmark the film, there's a certain, palpable level of cheeky joy that film revels in. There's not so much outrage in the film as there is misplaced wit and sympathy that the film enjoys from its veteran casting of an acerbic Downey and a unstable Hope Davis as Charlie's boozehound mother that treats him just too much like an adult for their own good. It's this centre of humility in the film that keeps it from going too far into the deep end of a cesspool of derisive histrionics of self-obsessed privileged lifestyles, and reminds us that underneath all the blue blazers and cocksure swagger is a lonely, poor little rich boy yearning for adult and peer validation alike.
Amazing
posted on 25 Jul 2009This movie was absolutely amazing, no lie. I went in to this movie expecting something totally different, but what I got out of it was awesome. If you like Juno you will like this movie ten times more.This movie is completely humorous and I don't think there was a moment I stopped laughing, even on some of the more serious scenes. I was pretty much in tears with laughter by the time I left the theater. It put me in such a good mood I couldn't sleep and today I've been happy all day,and not to mention I'm going to see it again.I am so excited to go see it again tonight and if I could I would definitely rate it a 11/10 stars and I have never seen a movie such as this one.
The central character annoyed the heck out of me.
posted on 13 Jul 2009Story of a spoiled rich kid who begins to sell Ritalin and advice to the student body of his new high school. In doing so he begins to find himself and his life.What you think of the film will depend on what you think of Anton Yelchin as Bartlett. To some he's a charming rogue, to me he comes off as an insufferable twit in the same way that Frank Albertson could be annoying in the B movies of the 1930's and 40's. I found him abrasive and had an impossible time getting through the film. To be certain the film is witty but with out a central character you care about all the clever lines in the world will fall flat, which was what happened here. In all honesty give me Juno any day.
A truly emmotive movie
posted on 19 Jun 2009This is one of the best movies that I have seen in a long time. I myself am a teenager and can empathise completely with the movie. The acting was incredible with the characters dynamic and not focusing on simply one character apart from Charlie. I would recommend seeing this movie whatever the age as all with connect and enjoy it. The story does at first seem quite typical but it is unique in its own way. Though slightly predictable it is good to that there are a range of characters who can contrast. As I said earlier I would recommend going to see it as it is good and emotive. Enjoy it but also learn from it as it is a good movie for showing the world how kids really feel not simply how they should feel sterotypically.
A smart and funny teen movie
posted on 17 Jun 2009This is one of the few teen comedies that actually works.The script is fantastic and I loved the premise. Sure you can easily predict what will happen. The bully who becomes friends with the protagonist, the relationship with Charlie and the principal but it's still fun to watch. There are some illogical things in the plot such as how does he get time to talk to all the people in the bathroom during school. The effects of Ritalin were exaggerated but it was hilarious to watch.The actors really do great jobs. Anton Yelchin, who plays Charlie, has a bright future ahead of him after see this. Kat Dennings plays her part right and Hope Davis is hilarious as the Charlie's quirky mother. Robert Downey Jr. adds another great performance to his resume as the alcoholic principal who just happens to be the father of Charlie's girlfriend. Another person I would add to this list is Tyler Hilton. He plays the bully who becomes friends with Charlie and I thought he did a really good job. If I had to pick two people who give the best performances it would have to be Anton Yelchin and Robert Downey Jr.I really liked this movie and you should definitely check it out if you like teen comedies.9/10
Better than Juno
posted on 22 May 2009I'm 18 years old and I saw this movie with my little sister, a friend of hers and both my parents. We all loved it. It's the movie the most accurately depicts high school students without being boring. The storyline may not be at all realistic but the characters are. The acting was amazing and each character is easy to relate to and likable.I loved Juno but to me, what it lacked in being a movie about teens, was having at least some part of it that was realistic.I've been waiting for this movie to come out since July so needless to say, I had high expectations. This was much better than I had expected.Anton Yelchin is definitely someone to look out for and I certainly look forward to watching him in his next movies. Robert Downey Jr. is amazing and Tyler Hilton is hysterical (which I actually wasn't expecting). There is not a single annoying character or bad actor.Definitely go see it!!!!!!!!!!!I know I'm going to see it again.
The little amount of good is spoiled by a horribly unbalanced and unoriginal whole
posted on 14 May 2009Charlie Bartlett tells the story of a rich kid (played by Anton Yelchin), who seems to have problems staying at any one private school. After being thrown out from another one, his mother Marilyn (Hope Davis) sends him to a normal public high school, and there he continues to cause trouble, only after becoming a pseudo-psychiatrist and friend to many of the school's students.I was not expecting much from Charlie Bartlett, and I did not get much. Right off the bat, the film begins to feel like a rehash of every high school movie ever made, only worse. It has a few clever and obvious homages here and there, but for the most part, it seems to have taken all of the best parts and mish-mashed them together into an in-cohesive whole. The first time Charlie walks onto the public school campus, we are thrown head first into every possible cliché and stereotype of high school students there are, and then some. And as the movie continues, it never even bothers to address these issues, or try to say anything new about them (other than to tell the audience that even teenagers have psychologically traumatic issues they are not given a chance to deal with).What becomes worse is how ridiculous the film gets. I am not sure if I went to a sheltered or preppy suburban high school, but I doubt anyone would get away with smoking in the hallways. There is a rather involving subplot about the issue of cameras being placed in a student zone, and how upsetting this is to the students. But if we are to assume this story is being played out in contemporary times, why are these students so upset? Why is one student so distraught that he feels the sheer idea of metal detectors and random locker searches is out of the ordinary? Is this school so violence and drug free (other than the marijuana the stoners smoke and the pills Charlie is handing out left and right without any of the staff taking notice) that they really do not already have at least some of these preventative measures in place? Its lack of realism in the current age seems to be a big problem, and leads more credence to the film being an outright fantasy, rather than an actual take on high school life (like its much stronger brethren).The story is also a bit of a problem. The general storyline of the film is nothing too extravagant, and really does not do much for it (other than to help further make some of the events rather unbelievable and borderline ridiculous). The subplots that infest it however, do even less. They seem to pop up, and are either answered rather quickly, or are left hanging waiting for a resolution that never comes, or comes so softly and easily that you wonder why it was worth mentioning in the first place. It is not that the movie is confusing, it just feels convoluted under the weight of what it is trying to accomplish and the point it is trying to make. Screenwriter Gustin Nash just does not seem to have an idea of what he wants the film to say. He compensates by adding some drama here and there, but the poignancy that some scenes try to make seems to be lost among all of the uselessness at work here.I did like, and was rather surprised by, the film's language. When I saw the trailer, I was expecting the typical PG/PG-13 teen film that has characters using language completely untrue to the typical high school. Here, the students swear and smoke all they want, and it actually felt a lot more true to what high school life actually looks like (although my school never had a student lounge). That part of the film caught me quite off guard, and I think for all the problems that plague it, the language helps give the film a bit more of the realistic tinge missing from the story. There was a bit too much smoking I thought (especially out of one specific obligatory rebel character), but on the whole, made it seem more like a real high school. The use of Cat Steven's "If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out" from Harold and Maude was a nice touch, but probably a bit too obscure for the majority of these students.Yelchin, as Bartlett, is a bit of a convoluted piece himself. On one hand, he does very well for himself, making his character believable and genuine. But on the other, he just does not seem right for the role. It works as a bit of a balancing issue throughout the entire film, and it does not help that his character seems to be every bit of a blender mix of Max Fischer, Ferris Bueller and Jim Stark all at once. It looks like Yelchin was given very little direction in how to make the character feel genuine and different for the entirety of the film, as opposed to minuscule little sections.The rest of the supporting cast is rather mixed. Davis does really good for herself, but her character is barely in the movie and her motivations are only briefly explored. Kat Dennings, Tyler Hilton, Mark Rendall and Dylan Taylor all do okay as Charlie's classmates, but seem to be playing off of pre-chiseled archetypes done much better in other films (Rendall's Murphy for one, was a whole lot better when he was played by Judd Nelson in The Breakfast Club). Robert Downey Jr., as the principal with problems of his own, is probably the best thing about the movie, but his work is clouded within the messy whole, and is really hard to appreciate.Charlie Bartlett, despite good intentions, is just not that great. A lack of originality and off-balanced performances only weaken the film further.3/10.
Teen comedy or a moral tale for older people too?
posted on 12 May 2009I began watching this thinking "I'm about 30 years too old to appreciate this" because it seemed to be pitched at a teenage audience, but after a while I was taken by the unfolding events and drawn in to the believable human story underneath it all. The great performances of Robert Downey Jr and Anton Yelchin convinced me that the Principal of a school and a troubled student could end up helping each other and overcome the predictable high school conventions. It was surprising and satisfying, and the outcomes for many of the characters were positive in a not-unbelievable way. I understand why some people would see the likeness to Rushmore, but for me that was a uniquely brilliant Wes Anderson creation that can't be touched by films with apparently similar plots. Charlie Bartlett is worth seeing for its own sake and it is a rewarding experience. Anyone who has been a teenager should appreciate it and fans of Robert Downey Jr will also get the bonus of his character opening up about a history of drug abuse that seems to come from the heart of this wonderful actor.
Overall, better then I had expected
posted on 12 May 2009If there is is one thing that has happened over the past year or so, it is my growing distrust of the 'indie' film. After seeing the trailer for Charlie Bartlet, I could not expect anything better from this movie. It looked like the same old awkward teen movie like Running With Scissors, Thumbsucker, or Igby Goes Down with some unknowns, and one or two Hollywood legends taking the roll for the 'artistic value.'Thankfully, I was mistaken.The movie follows a well-off teen, Charlie Bartlet (Anton Yelchin), who's shinning academic career is constantly marred by the lengths he will go to to be popular, leaving him with nothing more than an expulsion from every Private Academy he's gone to. Deciding to try public school for th first time, Bartlet realizes it is a whole new world and he's at the bottom. After a brief run-in with Ritalin, Bartlet strikes up a deal with the school bully and, using the extensive list of private therapists at his family's disposal who are more than happy to prescribe medications as a solution to any problem, quickly sets up shop as the student-body therapist and pharmacy.The situation is complicated when Bartlet falls for Susan (Kat Dennings), the daughter of Principal Gardner (Robert Downey, Jr.), whose past issues and horrible misfortune of being promoted to School Principal from his beloved roll as History teacher have left him somewhat cynical, and suspicious of Charlie.The only negative to this movie is that it's runtime of 97 minutes far exceeds it's 60 minute plot and will sometimes feel as though it drags on. But the clashing between Bartlet and Gardner has a chemistry (the two actors compliment each other very well in both style and character) that makes it worth the slow points. Overall, I would highly recommend this movie. It may not be fast-paced, and does lack any strong conflict, but overall it is a very enjoyable comedy that really goes to show that no matter what, everyone just wants to be liked and accepted.
Thoughtful and Sincere.
posted on 12 May 2009'Charlie Bartlett' is far from perfect, and it would be easy to go down a list of the film's flaws. It is yet another unrealistic portrayal of high school and life's problems, there are a number of stereotypical characters, and at times the film teeters on overwrought melodrama. Yet despite all of this, 'Charlie Bartlett' is surprisingly good. Short and to the point, this explosively entertaining coming of age tale is certainly better than your typical teenage comedy. Why? In many ways, it's an inspired performance from the young Anton Yelchin. A star on the rise, this is the perfect vehicle to jump start what should be a very promising career.In a society that seems to swear by prescription drugs to get them through the day, 'Charlie Bartlett' tells the story of a rebellious but very intelligent student who is the lord of his very own underground drug market at school. He listens to students when nobody else pays them any attention, and with the help of some Xanax and Zoloft prescriptions becomes a legend among his peers and notorious to the staff. Director Jon Poll directs only his second ever feature film, and his first in 25 years. A certain lack of experience and heavy-handedness doesn't do much of a favor, but Poll has enough skill to pull it off. With a tone that reflects the film's own manic tendencies and a script that at times is savagely funny, this is one character study and piece of social commentary that's actually worth seeing.'Charlie Bartlett' is undeniably smart and very sharp, and you really can't overstate how much of a role Anton Yelchin plays in that. It's a brilliant performance, one that immediately catches your attention and pulls you in. He gives the film much needed emotional depth, as well as some huge belly laughs, and finally gives 'Charlie Bartlett' a sense of direction and meaning as it transitions from comedy to drama in its final act. It has something to say about a generation of teenagers forced to grow up to soon and with obstacles and hardships constantly being thrown their way, and I give the film credit for that. It's not always an optimistic outlook, and at times seems very bleak. But despite having major flaws of its own, this is a project able to overcome its shortcomings and emerge as a solid outing for all involved. Not a bad way to spend 90 minutes.More reviews at rottentomatoes.com/vine/journal_view.php?journalid=219276&view=public
Excellent Movie
posted on 28 Apr 2009Charlie Bartlett (Yelchin) is the story of a wealthy young man who can't seen to get the knack of fitting in until he is kicked out of private school and becomes an amateur psychiatrist for the kids there.As a high school student, I can say that it's a semi-accurate portrayal of high school life nowadays. I find the big to-do about cameras being installed a bit much, but the personalities of the kids and the interaction between them all is good. Another problem for me is that I've never seen a high school principal that looked as amazing as Robert Downey Jr.Charlie is an amazingly likable character. From his naivety to his endearing want to be liked, he is an all around lovable personality.My one gripe with this movie is their excessive recycling of Degrassi actors. Jake Epstein, Lauren Collins, Aubrey Graham. All of them Degrassi actors who can't seem to break out of the role of troubled teens.But, overall, this is a great movie.
I can't say enough good things about this movie
posted on 20 Apr 2009This is a very well acted, well made film that has a few significant weakness (some confusing and contradictory actions taken by the characters) but overall its worth a rental and, if you like interesting character studies, a worthwhile addition to your film collection. While an 8 may not seem to be a rave, I give very few movies a high grade and so by my criteria, this is a very good movie. The performance by Downey is particularly (and typically) a very good one, although at times you are uncertain as to the specific motivations of his character (more a flaw of the script than the acting). Hope Davis, in a role she has, to a certain extent, found herself in with some of her former films, is also good, as are the key student parts. However, the great performance here is by Anton Yelchin as the lead and name character. This is someone who, given good scripts, will likely have a long and very good career as an actor.Highly, highly recommended.
One Of The Greatest Movies
posted on 18 Apr 2009******VERY LITTLE SPOILERS (IF YOU SAW THE TRAILER THERE Aren't ANY SPOILERS)********** The movie Charlie Bartlett is one of the greatest (non superhero)movies in almost 2 years. The movie captures some of the problems teens face today and wraps it up nicely with exceptional performances from Robert Downey Jr., Anton Yelchin, Kat Dennings and Hope Davis. There are a few familiar faces if you watch The N you will see 3 characters from the show Degrassi The Next Generation. The movie shows the popularity struggle every teen faces sometime in their life and a safe way to deal with that. The movie has some "That cant happen in real life" moments such as Charlie missing class all the time to talk to students, his ability to gain many prescription drugs without insurance finding out or his mom or the pharmacy. The movie overall deserves a 9/10. The movie is a great movie of course there is some language and Drug use... common sense this is high school but overall this movie is a great movie for anyone over 13. Enjoy the movie.
Mediocre but pretty entertaining
posted on 14 Apr 2009I decided to watch this movie because of the cast listing. However, Anton Yelchin has now proved to me he cannot grasp a very wide range of emotion while portraying a character. If you have ever seen "House of D" and then viewed this movie you will see what I'm talking about. Yelchin plays the role of Charlie Bartlett, an angsty teen who doesn't play by the rules. He gets kicked out of every private school he attends and ends up in public school. He finds that public school is a completely different world and sets out on a conquest to be popular. He starts selling his Ritalin prescription to his fellow students and it escalates into his own high school pharmacy. Enter the best part about this movie: Robert Downey Jr. RDJ gives a great performance as the principal who hates his life and father of Charlie's girlfriend. He is depressed, distraught, and psychologically distorted by the high school scene and plays it to perfection. If it weren't for RDJ I would have turned this movie off because it was getting rather absurd. The principal (RDJ) catches on to Charlie's antics but never fully slams the hammer of consequence onto the nail of teen-angst. We finally get insight into the depth this movie contains when the character's stories are developed completely. It takes a while for it all to unravel but when it does the movie becomes a lot more enjoyable. I was pretty disappointed with the first half but the story picks up more in the second half. If you have a solid two hours of boredom I would pick up this decent flick--Downey Jr.'s performance makes it worth viewing at least once.7/10
ads better than movie
posted on 21 Mar 2009It's not a bad movie, and it's a little more than a TV movie, but just a little. The ads make you expect something smarter, hipper, more believable. And while the storyline is much more complex that Ferris Beuhler's Day Off, the film evokes some of that platform but can't measure up, because its star is no Matthew Broderick. And because the story jumps through hoops of unbelievability much more suited for a very, very young GP audience, when a bit of good writing could have made it somewhat believable. Instead you sink in your movie seat and hope not to be spotted by anyone who knows you, and you have visions of that 10 (or 11 or 12) dollars ticket price flapping away like a bird.
Owes much more to Harold and Maude
posted on 11 Mar 2009While there are certainly surface similarities with Rushmore and Ferris Buehler, Charlie Bartlett owes much more, stylistically and thematically to Harold and Maude (a fact which the film makers gave a nod to with the inclusion of If you Want to Sing Out). There is ample reason to give the film your suspension of disbelief - even just the likability of the characters and the dialog that doesn't scream "ironic indie teen film" in every conversation. Sure there are also a ton of reasons to dislike the movie, but you really have to want to dislike it - the only real problem is that, like most "indie" (that is, trying to be indie) films these days, it tends to smooth over too many potentially interestingly jagged edges. Quite enjoyable and likable though, and well worth anyone's hour and a half.
Can modern high schools really be this depressing?
posted on 09 Mar 2009For one thing, Charlie wins the affection of Susan Gardner (Kat Dennings), whose father happens to be the principal of the school: Nathan Gardner (Robert Downey Jr.). For another, these other kids whom he's serving come to him for help with their more fundamental problems. He sees that some of them are really deeply in pain and in need of real help, and that drugs and the sort of attention these kids receive from counselors or their parents are wholly inadequate. (The writer stops short of suggesting that the coercive power of the state, when applied to schooling, might be the culprit.)For my complete review of this movie and for other movie and book reviews, please visit my site TheCoffeeCoaster.com.Brian Wright Copyright 2008
School story with a retro feel
posted on 25 Feb 2009Enterprising teenager, Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin from Alpha Dog) was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Hyper-intelligent and musically gifted, his bedroom wall is decorated with countless framed letters from all the private high schools that have expelled him. His adoring but almost permanently medicated mother (a wonderful performance by Hope Davis) finds herself at a bit of a loss, especially since Charlie's Dad is not around.Charlie declines the services of their chauffeur and opts to take the yellow school bus to the local public school. It's a far cry from the elite institutions he is accustomed to attending. Still sporting his private school blazer and politely trying to make friends, Charlie quickly becomes the target of bullies who use him for punching practice. Ever the entrepreneur, he nevertheless wins his schoolmates over with a side business marketing his prescribed medications and dispensing psychiatric advice in the boys toilets during lunchtime. Pretty soon Charlie has gained the all-embracing adulation he craved, obtained his first girlfriend, the super-cool Susan (Kat Dennings from 40 Year Old Virgin) but is dangerously at odds with the school's principal (Robert Downey Jr.) who is also Susan's father.Written and directed by virtual newcomers Gustin Nash and Jon Poll (respectively), this homage to Harold and Maude becomes all the more blatant by the over-use of a familiar song in two key scenes. This misstep aside, Charlie Bartlett is incisive and brilliantly entertaining. Downey Jr. proves yet again he is far and away the best actor of his generation, balancing the gravitas, humanity and wisdom in his role as father-figure while becoming unhinged as the reluctant fall guy for a school on the verge of implosion.Charlie Bartlett is much more than Harold and Maude meets Rushmore meets Ferris Bueller; its rewards are many.
Oh, the humanity
posted on 17 Feb 2009I can't quite figure out why Charlie Bartlett has had such an amazingly good reception among IMDb users. I'm sorry, but of all the films I have seen, this might definitely be the worst. Both the script and the directing of this film makes any Uwe Boll -film seem like a masterpiece. No, really, it's that bad.Apart from many others who disliked this film, I didn't see anything redeeming about the overall acting quality, in fact, I was annoyed by most of the people in this film.As fresh as it sounds, I also didn't see any particularly important message in the story of an attention-whoring (this time by being a therapist), stereotypical "cool, smart and nice" guy coming to a new school and meeting and interacting with other, completely original characters (note: irony). But maybe the important messages lie in the awesome solutions our protagonist gives to the problem-teens. That's certainly something no one has ever heard and/or figured out.The script. Usually all the notable "teen movies" have very similar story lines, especially endings. But they also have at least some twists. This film doesn't do anything apart from the typical, and even a less-active movie-goer wouldn't find anything new about this.The environment is the typical public high in Hollywood movies, but even more superficial (no way you could relate to any of this) Now this would have been OK if they had overdone it to comedic proportions but instead it's just sad. As far as character development goes, "Cliched" would be quite an euphemism for it. No wait there's no actual character development, all the characters put in the movie are just very cheesy and don't really change. Not only was I not engaged in the atmosphere, I constantly felt the the need to disengage (ie. stop watching).If anything can save an otherwise bad movie it's humor. Too bad this movie has none. You can't actually call yourself normal if you even smiled at the supposedly funny sarcastic or otherwise lame jokes in this movie.7.5? I don't have much faith left in humanity.
Good movie, lacks direction
posted on 28 Aug 2009I saw this movie not really knowing what to expect. I half expected to see another playful teen comedy while part of me hoped it could be something more. The beginning is wildly funny with some great, memorable moments. The problem is that the first and second halves seem disjointed. The movie couldn't pick whether it wanted to be a comedy or a drama. For example, a high school party turns from a wild rave to a depressing (although intended to be heart felt) talk as the two main characters discuss somber topics that give way to an awkward sex scene. Robert Downey Jr. gives a strong performance and this movie could have been something special, but the way it was put together holds it back.