Charlie Bartlett
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| Charlie Bartlett | |
 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Jon Poll |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Jay Roach Sidney Kimmel |
| Written by | Gustin Nash |
| Starring | Anton Yelchin Robert Downey Jr. Hope Davis Kat Dennings Tyler Hilton |
| Music by | Christophe Beck |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) | February 22, 2008 |
| Running time | 96 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $12 million |
| Gross revenue | $5,252,020[1] |
Charlie Bartlett is a 2008 American comedy film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer about a teenager who becomes the unofficial psychiatrist for the student body of his new high school. The movie was originally set to be released on August 3, 2007, but was pushed back six months until February 1, 2008; it was again pushed to February 22, 2008.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Wealthy teenager Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin) is expelled from his private school after being caught making fake driver's licenses for other students. After starting to attend the local public school, he continues to fail miserably at fitting in at a school run by the world-weary Principal Nathan Gardner (Robert Downey, Jr.). As he begins to better understand the social hierarchy, Charlie's honest charm and likability positions him as the resident "psychiatrist" dishing out advice, and the occasional prescription with his partner and fellow student, school bully Murphy Bivens (Tyler Hilton), to other students in need. Along the way, he decides to take some of his own advice, find romance with the principal's rebellious daughter Susan (Kat Dennings), and learn to accept who he is.
[edit] Production
The majority of school scenes were made in Toronto, Ontario, on the school campuses of Western Technical Commercial School and Ursula Franklin Academy. While many of the hallway scenes were shot in the Ursula Franklin section of the building, the boys' lavatory that is used as Charlie's office is one of Western Technical Commercial School's. The student lounge from the movie was constructed specifically for the shooting of this movie.
Many of the interior and exterior scenes taking place at the Bartlett Estate were shot in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada at the Parkwood Estate. Parkwood has played home to various well-off movie characters, including the likes of Billy Madison.[2]
[edit] Cast
- Anton Yelchin as Charlie Bartlett
- Robert Downey Jr. as Principal Nathan Gardner
- Hope Davis as Marilyn Bartlett
- Kat Dennings as Susan Gardner
- Tyler Hilton as Murphey Bivens
- Mark Rendall as Kip Crombwell
- Dylan Taylor as Len Arbuckle
- Megan Park as Whitney Drummond
- Jake Epstein as Dustin Lauderbach
- Jonathan Malen as Jordan Sunder
- Derek McGrath as Superintendent Sedgwick
- Stephen Young as Dr. Stan Weathers
- Ishan Davé as Henry Freemont
- David Brown as Officer Hansen
- Lauren Collins as Kelly
- Aubrey Graham as A/V Jones
The film co-stars three of the Degrassi: The Next Generation kids: Lauren Collins (Paige), Aubrey Graham (Jimmy),Jake Epstein (Craig) and recurring character Ishan Davé (Linus)
[edit] Release
[edit] Theatrical
The movie was unsuccessful at recouping its $12 million budget at the box office, bringing in only $5,252,020 worldwide.[1]
[edit] Critical reception
The movie received a score of 54% on Rotten Tomatoes, a score of "rotten" based on 116 collected reviews.
Jim Emmerson, editor of rogerebert.com, gave the movie 2 1/2 stars out of 4, saying, "Almost everything in Charlie Bartlett is based on successful teen comedy formulas of the '70s, '80s, and '90s, like My Bodyguard, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Footloose, The Breakfast Club, and Say Anything.... The romance between Charlie and Susan (which even has a Cat Stevens song for a theme) is basically Harold and Maude with a gorgeous teenage girl instead of feisty septuagenarian Ruth Gordon. Like many of John Hughes's high school movies, it presents a fantasy of tolerance and camaraderie about kids from different social circles — nerds, jocks, hoods, cheerleaders, drama clubbers — coming together to fight adult authoritarianism."
[edit] Home video
The film was released on DVD June 24, 2008.[3]
[edit] Special features
- Commentary with director Jon Poll and writer Gustin Nash (Side A)
- Commentary with director Jon Poll, actors Anton Yelchin and Kat Dennings (Side B)
- Restroom confessionals (Side B)
- Spiral Beach "Voodoo" music video (Side A)
Originally announced but not included were an additional commentary (featuring director Jon Poll and editor Alan Baumgarten), deleted scenes, and making-of featurettes.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Charlie Bartlett (2008)
- ^ Movies & Photography, About Parkwood, Parkwood National Historic Site. Accessed March 5, 2008.
- ^ DVD Times - Charlie Bartlett (R1) in June
