Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin) has been kicked out of every private school he's ever went to. Finally after being kicked out of another school, his mother Marilyn (Hope Davis) decides to send him to public school. On his first day Charlie comes to school in a suit and ends up being beaten and humiliated by the school bully Murphy (Tyler Hilton). He makes no friends at first but he does have a crush on the principal's daughter Susan Gardner (Kat Dennings). Principal Gardner (Robert Downey Jr) is an alcoholic who is losing his daughter, and also hates his job. Meanwhile Charlie is sent to a psychiatrist who gives him a Ritalin prescription, causing Charlie to get high. Charlie then realizes how he can make all new friends and achieve popularity. Charlie begins having therapeutic sessions in the boy's bathroom, and also deals prescription drugs to the students. Students are lining up outside the door to see Charlie, which attracts the attention of Principal Gardner who now has to try to keep his daughter away from Charlie, while trying to end Charlies control over the school.
Charlie Bartlett presents us with the teen character stereotypes and a constant "John Hughes" look and feel to it. However Charlie's claim to fame through selling medicines would not prosper in real life like in the film. In real life Charlie would have been found out quickly if kids lined up to see him. Also Ritalin does not get you that high in reality like it did to the kids in the movie, but I can forgive that. Except for Charlie, Principal Gardner, Susan, and the bully Murphy (who turns into Charlie's assistant) there aren't really any other well developed characters. There is one character named Kip (Mark Rendall) who has a lot of depression and suicidal problems, and is Charlie's first patient. Something big happens with his character in the end but the movie forgets about him until the end. Robert Downey Jr's character is an alcohol abuser, basically mirroring his own past. Robert Downey Jr is the best part of the whole movie, and Anton Yelchin shows exceptional talent.
The movie does work in some ways however. I liked the bully's characterization and how he turned out in the end. Charlie Bartlett seems like a spoiled kid with a ton of issues, and his dealing of drugs to kids to achieve popularity is nothing but wrong. Although the movie realizes this by the end. I can definitely commend Charlie Bartlett as being better than the average teen comedy. It is more ambitious and does not follow all the stupid vulgar jokes that we usually see in a movie like this. Charlie Bartlett is more mature and understanding of actual problems and issues that exist in teenagers and adults alike. One problem however is that the movie turns out more serious than funny. I didn't really laugh too hard during many scenes, which I'm guessing may disappoint some audiences. The scene involving Charlie taking Ritalin for a week and showing him getting high, and playing fast piano scores, and dancing around the street in his underwear. This scene is very funny but the rest of the movie is not.
Overall Charlie Bartlett is more ambitious and goes down a different road than regular teen comedies. It's message of how you gain popularity is true. But the movie just isn't that funny because of how muddled the story becomes. Charlie is not really that likable which may have been the point, I'm not so sure. I give Charlie Bartlett a 2.5 out of 4. The movie is not funny or strong enough to be memorable.
Charlie Bartlett presents us with the teen character stereotypes and a constant "John Hughes" look and feel to it. However Charlie's claim to fame through selling medicines would not prosper in real life like in the film. In real life Charlie would have been found out quickly if kids lined up to see him. Also Ritalin does not get you that high in reality like it did to the kids in the movie, but I can forgive that. Except for Charlie, Principal Gardner, Susan, and the bully Murphy (who turns into Charlie's assistant) there aren't really any other well developed characters. There is one character named Kip (Mark Rendall) who has a lot of depression and suicidal problems, and is Charlie's first patient. Something big happens with his character in the end but the movie forgets about him until the end. Robert Downey Jr's character is an alcohol abuser, basically mirroring his own past. Robert Downey Jr is the best part of the whole movie, and Anton Yelchin shows exceptional talent.
The movie does work in some ways however. I liked the bully's characterization and how he turned out in the end. Charlie Bartlett seems like a spoiled kid with a ton of issues, and his dealing of drugs to kids to achieve popularity is nothing but wrong. Although the movie realizes this by the end. I can definitely commend Charlie Bartlett as being better than the average teen comedy. It is more ambitious and does not follow all the stupid vulgar jokes that we usually see in a movie like this. Charlie Bartlett is more mature and understanding of actual problems and issues that exist in teenagers and adults alike. One problem however is that the movie turns out more serious than funny. I didn't really laugh too hard during many scenes, which I'm guessing may disappoint some audiences. The scene involving Charlie taking Ritalin for a week and showing him getting high, and playing fast piano scores, and dancing around the street in his underwear. This scene is very funny but the rest of the movie is not.
Overall Charlie Bartlett is more ambitious and goes down a different road than regular teen comedies. It's message of how you gain popularity is true. But the movie just isn't that funny because of how muddled the story becomes. Charlie is not really that likable which may have been the point, I'm not so sure. I give Charlie Bartlett a 2.5 out of 4. The movie is not funny or strong enough to be memorable.