A young socially-awkward, rich kid, with a history of school expulsions, attends public school for the first time, where he seeks out popularity by becoming his school’s underground psychiatrist.

Summary: Charlie Bartlett is an honest attempt at an homage of the perfect high school comedy we always set our expectations high for. Sadly, Charlie fails at this attempt and becomes just another muddled mess of clichés and jaded high school moments. Though Charlie Bartlett aims to be Ferris Bueller, he ends up having more in common with Pepper Potts as the film depends heavily on the Iron Man’s rescuing.

Charlie Bartlett -or- Charlie Loses to the Man of Iron

In Detail: The opening of the film is a strong realization as to how the movie will pan out, as it is filled with rigid dialogue and expression-less camera movement. Hope Davis contributes one of the only strengths in the film as she plays Charlie Bartlett’s whacked-out socialite of a mother with perfection. Jon Poll, the director, obviously must have foreseen this as he attempts to include the on-screen chemistry of mother and son as much as possible without overplaying it.

Sadly, for every strength of Charlie Bartlett, there are a multiple weaknesses that follow quickly behind. The viewer is almost immediately forced to sit through constant plot scenarios that reek of every single movie you’ve ever seen that had something to do with high school. From swirlies, to that really weird kid who has suicidal tendencies as a cry for help, Charlie Bartlett piles them on by the bulk. I think the only cliché left out would be the “locker sticks- so a potential significant other bangs on the door to open it” routine. But I could be wrong as I didn’t sift through the deleted scenes on the DVD.

It is my belief that the film could have been saved regardless of the jaded happenings simply by supplying the audience with a better lead actor. Anton Yelchin, who plays Charlie, is only 17 for the making of this film and Matthew Broderick was already 23 in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off- but the character of Charlie Bartlett needed a better actor to portray him. It needed someone lovable and fun who could sell the ridiculous story to the audience.

With all of this said, you may ask: “What was good about Charlie Bartlett?” Well, fortunately for the film, Iron Man himself happens to arrive in order to save the day. Robert Downey, Jr. plays the yin to Charlie Bartlett’s yang as both Charlie’s principal and Charlie’s girlfriend’s father. I found myself patiently waiting through the mundane just for a taste of Robert Downey.

Established early in the film, Robert Downey, Jr is written as the antagonist. The audience is meant to dislike him and instead, cheer on the infamous Charlie through his dangerous escapades. Sadly, perhaps attributed to Robert Downey’s likable screen presence, this is not the case. I found myself empathizing for the principle and disliking Charlie as a result, which I’m sure was not intended. Upon hearing the “sad” and “horrible” tale of how the principle was the victim of infidelity and escaped to alcoholism, I did not feel bad for his daughter- I only pitied the father.

Downey’s performance improves the film so much that when the film ends and Charlie meets his principle for a final showdown, we only begin to taste the sheer genius of the thespian that is Robert Downey Jr.

Overall, it was shocking to see an idea that looks so great on paper, played out so wrong when it came to the filming. The film was overall enjoyable- mainly because the side characters were skilled at their acting professions (or perhaps that was just in relation to the titular character’s performance). It was also fun to see Robert Downey get plastered on screen (Demon in a Bottle, anyone?), but with high school comedies and dramas at the caliber of John Hughes’ Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), Seth Rogen’s Superbad (2007) and Rian Johnson’s Brick (2005), you can leave this one on the shelf in hopes that Gus Van Sant’s new film, Paranoid Park (2008) is more fitting.

**One more thing: Try playing a drinking game for every time you hear the name “Charlie Bartlett” in the movie. You’d be trashed just by reading this review.

DVD

The DVD, released June 24^th, includes decent motion menus and three commentary tracks! You have to be very brave to watch this movie three tmes in a row to listen to them all. It also contains a below average making-of featurette.

GOD KING GRADE: (C)   ★★★★★