"Charlie Bartlett" - Film Review

“Ferris Bueller” and “Rushmore” with repercussions ...

First and foremost, I went into this movie looking to extend my knowledge of the work of Robert Downey Jr. another volume (Which I did. He was fantastic.) What I found was Anton Yelchin. Who is by far the most talented young actor to come out of the film circuit in quite some time. And words be marked, we will see more and more of this guy as he grows into his talent.

Charlie is a movie about a kid just trying to fit in, but aren’t all other stereotypical teenage films? Unlike other films about teenagers fumbling through the wasteland of high school and early college without a net, Charlie has some backup. His wealthy mother provides an on call Psychiatrist, who Charlie gets to vent to when things get a little out of control. And Charlie is known to get a little out of control. After getting kicked out of private school after private school, Charlie is grounded to a high school (sound familiar?) Immediately Charlie is looking for a new way to fit in. He finds it ... by being the school psychiatrist - prescriptions and all. There’s one small hitch, the girl that he likes just so happens to be the principal (RDJ)s daughter.

Charlie listens good and hard to these kids and tries one by one to solve their problems and help people. And one person at a time, he achieves his popularity. The entire school soon backs Charlie and the administration don’t look too kindly on that handsome devil.

Yelchin is stellar from the moment he steps on screen, so much that he seems to share the same type of natural talent as RDJ. His quick bursts of outlandishness and his frankness in serious conversation make him utterly believable. Downey plays a father in this movie which is something of a switch, and an authority figure. But he’s honest and he’s vulnerable - making him (as always) worth watching.

This film wins for me because it was just one of those movies where more than one character is in a bad place, and we root for them to win. With movies like “Rushmore” and "Ferris Bueller” we were positive that these characters were invincible. Charlie Bartlett has problems and he recognizes them. There is some emotional depth there despite is “in control” facade. Isn’t that what really being a teenager is about? Looking like you had it together when you didn’t? And then when you actually realized that you didn’t ... you accepted who you were.