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Back to the 80’s - Charlie Bartlett and Son of Rambow
Hot on the heels of surprise smash indie comedy Juno (see review), Charlie Bartlett superficially seems to share many similarities
with that movie. Both feature wisecracking smart-alec leads, played by young rising stars. Both have excellent scripts and feature a
confidence of narrative and plot that belies the relative inexperience of the directors – respectively, Jason Reitman and John Poll.
Both make you feel a little better about the world, and, more importantly, both are very, very funny.
However, this is where the similarities end. Whereas Juno seemed to aspire to a kind of Generation X style subversive humour
such as Ghost World (2001) or Slacker (1991) (albeit a watered down, sweetened up version) Charlie harks back to the high school
comedies of the 80’s - the most obvious example being Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986).
Like Ferris, Charlie (Anton Yelchin) is a wise guy and the kind of kid who can at once be an outsider and a leader of his peers. His
constant battles with Principal Gardner (Robert Downey Junior, in a piece of inspired casting - the player of so many 80’s rebels
finally old enough to play the head!) provide gossip and entertainment throughout the high school network. What Charlie, also
provides (which is predictably the source of no small controversy surrounding the film) are counselling sessions for his fellow
pupils - situated in the gents loos - and a variety of psychoactive drugs to go with them.
This all has its serious side of course. Charlie gains access to the drugs through his own doctors who initially diagnose him with
ADD, his hyper activity and obsessive impulses being testimony to this conclusion. However, once he realises that powerful
chemicals can get doled out like there’s no tomorrow, he takes his shrinks for a ride and puts on a whole range of psychological
disturbances. If this wasn’t room enough for comedy of the darkest hue, then take into account the fact that his well meaning mum
is constantly bombed out of her mind on tranquilisers and white wine and his tax-dodging Dad’s in jail.
So, while Charlie is off-loading all of these drugs on the student body (with the help of stock bully Murphy) things are complicated
further in classic 80’s style by a growing relationship with the Principal’s daughter Susan (Kat Dennings). In another fairly shocking
touch of darkness, it takes the failed suicide of depressed loner Kip (Mark Rendall) to snap Charlie out of the pharmaceutical trade.
He does, however continue with the therapy sessions, eventually even trying to help out his girlfriends Dad…
Charlie Bartlett is a fine comedy and one that doesn’t trivialize sensitive issues. Its central message that popularity isn’t everything
in life is one that will resonate with audiences everywhere, particularly ones made up of the smart adolescent variety. I very much
doubt we’ll see a better teen comedy this year.
Nostalgia of a very different kind is served up by Son of Rambow. This charming story of two very different youngsters finding
friendship and the joys of filmmaking will strike a power chord with anyone who grew up in the 80’s.
Shy Will, brought up in the strict Plymouth Brethren church (no TV or rock and roll for him) and local tearaway Carter make unlikely
mates, but they gradually bond over a love of adventure and yes, the Sly Stallone vehicle First Blood. They begin to make a movie
loosely based on Rambo’s exploits, however the film, and their relationship, is put to the test when too cool for school French
exchange student Didier wants in on the action…
The attention to detail, from the soundtrack and the fashions to the playground slang is spot on –a space dust fuelled common
room stomp to Adam Ant is particularly well realised. All of the young cast acquit themselves very well, particularly the leads who
capture some of the poignancy and turbulence of school days. Son of Rambow deserves to become an instant cult classic - in the
words of the kids themselves; it is absolute ‘skill’.
Charlie Bartlett and Son of Rambow are both due to be released April 2008
Words by Robert Monk
Hot on the heels of surprise smash indie comedy Juno (see review), Charlie Bartlett superficially seems to share many similarities
with that movie. Both feature wisecracking smart-alec leads, played by young rising stars. Both have excellent scripts and feature a
confidence of narrative and plot that belies the relative inexperience of the directors – respectively, Jason Reitman and John Poll.
Both make you feel a little better about the world, and, more importantly, both are very, very funny.
However, this is where the similarities end. Whereas Juno seemed to aspire to a kind of Generation X style subversive humour
such as Ghost World (2001) or Slacker (1991) (albeit a watered down, sweetened up version) Charlie harks back to the high school
comedies of the 80’s - the most obvious example being Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986).
Like Ferris, Charlie (Anton Yelchin) is a wise guy and the kind of kid who can at once be an outsider and a leader of his peers. His
constant battles with Principal Gardner (Robert Downey Junior, in a piece of inspired casting - the player of so many 80’s rebels
finally old enough to play the head!) provide gossip and entertainment throughout the high school network. What Charlie, also
provides (which is predictably the source of no small controversy surrounding the film) are counselling sessions for his fellow
pupils - situated in the gents loos - and a variety of psychoactive drugs to go with them.
This all has its serious side of course. Charlie gains access to the drugs through his own doctors who initially diagnose him with
ADD, his hyper activity and obsessive impulses being testimony to this conclusion. However, once he realises that powerful
chemicals can get doled out like there’s no tomorrow, he takes his shrinks for a ride and puts on a whole range of psychological
disturbances. If this wasn’t room enough for comedy of the darkest hue, then take into account the fact that his well meaning mum
is constantly bombed out of her mind on tranquilisers and white wine and his tax-dodging Dad’s in jail.
So, while Charlie is off-loading all of these drugs on the student body (with the help of stock bully Murphy) things are complicated
further in classic 80’s style by a growing relationship with the Principal’s daughter Susan (Kat Dennings). In another fairly shocking
touch of darkness, it takes the failed suicide of depressed loner Kip (Mark Rendall) to snap Charlie out of the pharmaceutical trade.
He does, however continue with the therapy sessions, eventually even trying to help out his girlfriends Dad…
Charlie Bartlett is a fine comedy and one that doesn’t trivialize sensitive issues. Its central message that popularity isn’t everything
in life is one that will resonate with audiences everywhere, particularly ones made up of the smart adolescent variety. I very much
doubt we’ll see a better teen comedy this year.
Nostalgia of a very different kind is served up by Son of Rambow. This charming story of two very different youngsters finding
friendship and the joys of filmmaking will strike a power chord with anyone who grew up in the 80’s.
Shy Will, brought up in the strict Plymouth Brethren church (no TV or rock and roll for him) and local tearaway Carter make unlikely
mates, but they gradually bond over a love of adventure and yes, the Sly Stallone vehicle First Blood. They begin to make a movie
loosely based on Rambo’s exploits, however the film, and their relationship, is put to the test when too cool for school French
exchange student Didier wants in on the action…
The attention to detail, from the soundtrack and the fashions to the playground slang is spot on –a space dust fuelled common
room stomp to Adam Ant is particularly well realised. All of the young cast acquit themselves very well, particularly the leads who
capture some of the poignancy and turbulence of school days. Son of Rambow deserves to become an instant cult classic - in the
words of the kids themselves; it is absolute ‘skill’.
Charlie Bartlett and Son of Rambow are both due to be released April 2008
Words by Robert Monk
