Charlie Bartlett is it worth a watch?

Charlie Bartlett, is the story of a wealthy teenager who is kicked out of his private school. The only school left for him to attend is a public school with average teens. Throughout his time there, he begins to realize that no matter who you appear to be, the problems of life effect everyone. Charlie quickly becomes a type of therapist and activist at the school. He begins handing out prescription drugs to his peers that he acquired through his personal therapist.

Charlie Bartlett flew under the radar as a film, but is definitely worth a watch. The film was shot in Canada on a budget of 12 million dollars and distributed on the independent circuit. The film explores a much deeper level of teenage culture. It explores relationships, friendship, authority figures, cliques, and the use of prescription drugs. It does this in a way that is reminiscent to the John Hughes movies of the 1980’s because it is authentic and non exaggerated. The film begins to develop characters but quickly abandons that as the film jumps around.  

The characters remain the same throughout the entire film. Charlie doesn’t make much of a change, and neither does anyone else despite the events that they go through. Each aspect of the film seems rushed. Every event that the characters go through seems brief and too convenient. Despite these shortcomings the film not terrible. It is an average film worth a watch. I give Charlie Bartlett a C+.