Charlie Bartlett (2007)

Charlie Bartlett (2007) Movie Review

Let me commence by saying I believe this to be one of, if not THE best high school movie I have ever seen.

How can people say that high school is portrayed nonrealistically in this movie, because there is too much smoking (cigarettes)? or because we see for about 3 seconds a stoner pass an ending jay to a pal at the commencement of Charlie’s stay at the public high school? This is not even remotely close to anything involved in the theme of the story..and it is a completely irrelevant detail.

Clearly someone who went to a private 100,000$ a year high school has no idea what it is like in a public one.

It is not understandable that the students are revolted at the petition to place cameras on campus? How is that so? I mean, why shouldn’t they be? I enjoyed this piece so much for 2 reasons. Contrarily to what has already been said here, this movie is incredibly original, and secondly, because not only do we get stellar (and I mean that as in ACE) performances from both Yelchin and Danes, as well as the headmaster and other students, but I don’t think I saw ONE bad performance in this entire film.

The soundtrack is great, the story is fun, and that is also at the heart of it. I must have laughed my tears away throughout this film. It is hilarious. From Danes’ lines, to Charlie’s outbursts and general personality, to what goes on in the public high school.

Evidently the movie is meant to be different from mainstream high school cannon fodder. And it manages to succeed in being so without being convoluted. The movie is NOT convoluted at all. In fact, it is very clear and understandable.

This is perhaps one of the first movies about high school that does not somehow include 20 minutes of naked breasts and retarded competitions and narratives that are completely unreal (I am referring here to the recent American Pie installments we have been fed of late. But to be frank, this is a comment directed at all the other high school movies we keep seeing; these being the generic and identical flicks we’ll watch, but already know how they start and how they end before we’re past the movie title (The New Guy, etc etc etc etc)).

Charlie Bartlett actually manages to give off this air of originality with its never-before-seen storyline, but also display a clear vision of what real lives around these ages are like (16/17) in high school. The diverse problems we are presented with are entirely believable and perfectly real. And yes, what Charlie keeps on saying about what matters when you’re 17 is nothing shy from the truth. Being ‘popular’ in school is any 17-year-old’s deepest desire, whether we are willing to admit it or not.

Finally, the issue with prescribed meds is very current and perhaps even the most astute element in the story. If it isn’t, then please tell me what all this “pharm party” gibberish is about? It is well known that Ritalin, among other psychiatric medications of the same family are being opted for and abused throughout America in the times we live in, so any comment pointing at this element in the story as being surreal is clearly ignorant of today’s reality.