When you see the TV commercials for Charlie Bartlett don't be fooled. What you think you're going to get and what you do get are two completely different things.
Charlie Bartlett is a very quirky little movie, with quirky characters, and an equally quirky soundtrack. It's the story of a stinking rich 17 year old whose been tossed out of countless private schools for various degrees of shenanigans, and finally ends up a public high school. After initially failing to connect with his piers, he goes on to become the most popular in his class by leading the charge against....well everything. He becomes a dealer of prescription drugs, a non professional psychologist who hold sessions in bathroom stalls, and the lead voice this group of misfits never had. He also dates the principals daughter and about drives him out of his mind.
OK, first of all, this is an R rated movie and well deserved. This is not the real feel good movie that the TV spots would suggest. This is a movie that takes on many of the obstacles that face young people today and puts them into focus. It also speaks to the new problems of a generation out of high school for 10 -12 years. But maybe more importantly, it speaks to all of us on the personal demons we all have on some level or another, and if we choose to face them or not.
Charlie Bartlett is not for everyone. It's tough to watch at times, and deals with some heavy teen issues too. One thing I think is very skillfully done here, is that while this movie feels very real, you also know the whole time that this IS a story in a movie and that saves you from really losing hope for it characters. To enjoy Charlie Bartlett, I think you really have to love going to the movies. This is not for the twice a year movie goer.
But Charlie Bartlett is not a bad movie either. I was not thrilled with every frame in every scene, but in the end I rather enjoyed the sum of all the parts. True, it is not world changing cinema, but little is. Charlie Bartlett will be a big date movie with young adults, but might be worth a view for parents too. Just in case you think you may know a Charlie Bartlett.
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