Charlie Bartlett Movie Review written by MissMovieFan

Rated R
Cast: Anton Yelchin, Hope Davis, Kat Dennings and Robert Downey Jr.

Charlie Bartlett is comedy with a message. It’s kind of like Ferris Bueller's Day Off meets Rushmore. Anton Yelchin plays Charlie, an enterprising, yet mischievous, rich kid whose antics get him kicked out of one private school after another. His strange mother, played wonderfully by Hope Davis, puts him into public school as a last resort. Charlie battles the stigma of being the “new kid” and becomes the target of the school bullies, but then appoints himself as the school therapist marketing prescription meds and he gains overnight popularity. Charlie starts dating hot girl, Susan (Kat Dennings) putting him at odds with her father, the school principal (Robert Downey Jr).

Written and directed by virtual newcomers Gustin Nash and Jon Poll, Charlie Bartlett is insightful and amusing. Yelchin gives a terrific performance and Robert Downey Jr. proves yet again that he is one of the best and most underrated actors of his generation. Tyler Hilton was perfectly cast as the bully who softens up along the way. He surprisingly deviates from the normal high school bully stereotypes. Also Mark Rendall's role in this film as the depressed boy who comes to Charlie for help showed amazing range. Davis is a superbly funny as Charlie’s quirky mom. But I found Dennings to be a bit annoying at times. Her romantic scenes with Yelchin are the weakest in the film. She was a poor casting choice given the subplot about her singing and her inability to carry a tune.

Charlie Bartlett has something meaningful to say about the chemical coping methods running amuck in today’s society. The movie follows the usual formulas of other high school comedies, but it has a uniquely clever premise and enough charm to rise above the teen movie pitfalls. At times, the story tends to be a bit preachy, but entertaining and funny enough to forgive the predictable ending. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.