Heart, not brains

Films about teenagers and their “problems” haven’t had much success in the past few years, mostly because they follow the same tired formula. People have been waiting since the 1980s for mainstream teen films with as much heart as “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” or “The Breakfast Club.” The past six months, however, have given us two of said films: “Juno” and “Superbad.” A third film can now be added to that list: “Charlie Bartlett.”
Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin) is attempting to fit in at a public school after being kicked out of various private schools. After noticing that many kids at the school are having problems, Charlie takes it upon himself to become their unofficial psychiatrist, giving them relatable advice and huge sums of prescription drugs he obtains by fooling his own doctors.
Nevertheless, Charlie isn’t quite ready for his new position as leader. He must deal with the consequences of his actions from Principal Gardner (Robert Downey, Jr.) and fight off his own demons.
While “Charlie Bartlett” doesn’t have a groundbreaking story line, the heart its characters have makes it an enjoyable film. Almost every character in the film is completely likable, even its antagonist Principal Gardner.
The problems that much of the student body has – feeling alone, lost, confused – are obviously realistic. To use prescription drugs to solve teens’ problems here, and then to take them away only to have the kids feel even better, indicates a bit of a commentary on the way parents handle their children today.
The lead characters’ performances really help this film. Yelchin carries it with a charismatic ease and seems able to play the whole range of emotion without difficulty. Of course, Downey brings his usual greatness and is now comfortable playing characters who have had similar problems to those in his own life (in this case, alcoholism). The chemistry between the two works so well it’s hard to see Downey as an antagonist at all.
“Charlie Bartlett” is a teen-centric film that deals with some real problems kids are having today and does so in a heartwarming way. Sometimes, it’s over-the-top and a little awkward, but that’s how teenage life is.