Charlie Bartlett (2007)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Melvin W

  
  Charlie Bartlett: Oh trust me doc, bringing psychiatric drugs and teenagers together is like opening a lemonade stand in the desert.  "Popularity is a state of mind." I am extremely pleased with Charlie Bartlett. Not that I am surprised I liked it so much, as I am a huge… More
  Charlie Bartlett: Oh trust me doc, bringing psychiatric drugs and teenagers together is like opening a lemonade stand in the desert.  "Popularity is a state of mind." I am extremely pleased with Charlie Bartlett. Not that I am surprised I liked it so much, as I am a huge fan of both Anton Yelchin and Robert Downey Jr., and the premise was awesome. Sure there were plot elements that were less than unlikely and scenes that really turned up the melodrama for no particular reason, but for the most part it was a really good set in high school movie. Charlie Bartlett gets kicked out of his fancy private school for selling fake ID's and must go back to his huge mansion with his mother and attend public school. Charlie less than fits in with the kids at this new school, so he tries to fins a way to win them over. He chooses drugs. All kids want to get high and that is his way to get popular and also make some cash on the side. Then he starts offering psychiatric help for all the kids in his school in the bathroom. The principal isn't very fond of him and that is heightened when Charlie and his daughter start hanging out. I thought the film was extremely cool and had a pretty good concept. I like the idea of a kid no one likes finding a way to become the cool kid. Yeah it has been done before, but never like this. Yelchin owns every role he's ever had. Not once have I seen him in a movie and not been totally impressed and convinced by his performance. That is saying quite a bit since he started young. It doesn't look like he is going to fade out like some young actors do, at least I hope not. The movie has some fun sequences and some insightful ones. The insightful ones are a little overdone, I'll admit; and yeah, there are some incredibly cliched characters. But come on, high school is one big cliche and all the characters in this film really exist in just about every high school in the world. Overall the film works because of its cool premise and two actors who nail their roles. 

• Jeff "

  
  Charlie Bartlett was a decent coming of age comedy. However there are far better comedies out there that have addressed the subject. Director Jon Poll is no John Hughes and it shows. Charlie Bartlett tries to be a copy of many of Hughes' classic films. The film a good attempt at… More
  Charlie Bartlett was a decent coming of age comedy. However there are far better comedies out there that have addressed the subject. Director Jon Poll is no John Hughes and it shows. Charlie Bartlett tries to be a copy of many of Hughes' classic films. The film a good attempt at being a teen comedy with brains, but it leaves a lot to be desired. Actor Anton Yelchin is a so-so actor, and he manages to have good screen presence. I thought that the film was mildly entertaining and it was funny and dramatic in parts. Charlie Bartlett is nothing really great as a comedy, but it does manage to be entertaining. I felt that at times, the film suffered from poor writing and it could've been much better than it was. Charlie Bartlett had the potential of being a great comedy, instead the film lacks in some respects and the films conclusion is average. The film is a decent film to watch, but it's not a memorable film to re-watch and enjoy over and over again. The film manages to entertain, but leaves you wanting more. For what is, Charlie Bartlett is a good enough try at a teen comedy, however it's not as memorable as other films in the genre. A fairly forgettable film in the genre, one that does make you laugh, but doesn't do anything refreshing with its ideas. A decent film with laughs, however it's clear that this is a pretty forgettable film.

• Jim H

  
  A young misfit who dreams of being "the popular one" holds counseling sessions and sells anti-depressants to his high school classmates. There's a lot to like about Anton Yelchin's performance, and Robert Downey Jr. has the ability to make it seem like every part… More
  A young misfit who dreams of being "the popular one" holds counseling sessions and sells anti-depressants to his high school classmates. There's a lot to like about Anton Yelchin's performance, and Robert Downey Jr. has the ability to make it seem like every part he plays was written for him. But the film as a whole is a bit confusing, stuck between <i>The Breakfast Club</i> and satire. By the end of the film, I didn't know if I was supposed to celebrate these characters or see the film as condemning the society that produces drug addicts by stuffing teenagers full of Prozac. Overall, <i>Charlie Bartlett</i> is fun to watch, but I can't tell what it's saying.

• Conner R

  
  Genuinely funny and also serious when need be. Most of the time this is very much a comedy and one man's domination of a school, but it also answers serious questions and tackles a really important subject. The idea of giving out anti-depressants in a bathroom sounds like… More
  Genuinely funny and also serious when need be. Most of the time this is very much a comedy and one man's domination of a school, but it also answers serious questions and tackles a really important subject. The idea of giving out anti-depressants in a bathroom sounds like something extremely taboo, but not only does it pass, it also justifies it. It should make sense that a lot of high schoolers don't want to talk to adults, but the peers that they think understand them. Now this does go forth and discuss the side-effects of this kind of psychiatry; that's where this movie is really unique. It doesn't have that John Hughes narrative ending, this has a real issue and therefore a real outcome. Now as far as acting goes, you can't go any better than Anton Yelchin, a pre-overexposed Kat Dennings and the god among men known as Robert Downey Jr. They really make this movie feel good and have you investing so much time in the characters. Without being able to love the character of Charlie especially, this movie would have become ridiculous and weird.

• Thomas J

  
  It felt like a forced reinvention of Ferris Bueller for today's youth. Since I am not a youth of today... a lot was missed on me.

• Manu G

  
  It was entertaining and fun. It's really a feel-good movie involving teens in highschool. Although cheerful, friendly, well-dressed, and authentic, Charlie Bartlett has problems: his father is gone, his mother is loopy and clueless, he's been expelled from private schools… More
  It was entertaining and fun. It's really a feel-good movie involving teens in highschool. Although cheerful, friendly, well-dressed, and authentic, Charlie Bartlett has problems: his father is gone, his mother is loopy and clueless, he's been expelled from private schools for victimless crimes, he's getting punched out daily at his new school, the local public high - and, he longs to be popular. He makes peace with his tormentor by going into business with him: listening to kids' problems and selling them prescription drugs. Charlie's attracted to Susan, the daughter of the school's laissez-faire principal. New security cameras on campus, a student's overdose, and Charlie's open world view get him in serious trouble. Can the physician heal himself and just be a kid?

• Spencer S

  
  Overall it was an interesting film, staying around the parameters of quirky teen drama, but it wasn't a show stopper.

• Nicki M

  
  I'm a little unsure what I thought of this one. On one hand is quite a clever comment on prescription medicines and their abuse. on the other a teen movie, and I'm not really sure the two mesh together that well. As it seems to have fairly high ratings, perhaps it is just… More
  I'm a little unsure what I thought of this one. On one hand is quite a clever comment on prescription medicines and their abuse. on the other a teen movie, and I'm not really sure the two mesh together that well. As it seems to have fairly high ratings, perhaps it is just me. I also find it quite miscast. Robert Downey Jr is okay as the principal father. Kat Dennings is okay, but her lips are distracting. I'm not sure if she always looks like that, but here she looks like she has been in her mother's makeup box for the whole movie, the things look drawn on. Anton Yelchin I really didn't like. He is too dorky to be such a little upstart as this character is. Maybe Michael Cera could have pulled it off, but he sure doesn't. Then there are just other miscellaneous characters that don't fit or don't convince. The one notable exception was the suicidal teenager - he was the most convincing of the lot, and I may have cared more if he was in more of the film.I don't know, there was just something a bit off here for me. Like it was trying to hard to be clever, perhaps.

• James A

  
  I wanted to not like this movie and I was not let down.

• KJ P

  
  Charlie Bartlett is a... well, it's just a good movie!

• Leigh R

  
  Rather cute and funny. Probably wouldn't watch a second time but it was worth the first viewing.

• Dean M

  
  Damn funny! This is a great comedy with a message. Anton Yelchin has made a name for himself playing the smart, sensitive, and innocent tortured kid. Here he gets the chance to stretch his acting chops in a completely different direction. He's confident and anything but… More
  Damn funny! This is a great comedy with a message. Anton Yelchin has made a name for himself playing the smart, sensitive, and innocent tortured kid. Here he gets the chance to stretch his acting chops in a completely different direction. He's confident and anything but vulnerable. The wide range of emotions and the talents he shows here are unsurpassed. He sings, he dances, he plays piano, he does physical comedy and has fight scenes and romantic scenes and just about everything that could be thrown at him. Hope Davis is a riot as his not-quite-all-there mother. And Tyler Hilton is perfectly cast as the bully who we know from the start is destined to soften up somewhere along the way.

• Emile T

  
  A complete surprise to the stomach.<br/>It really joined me.<br/>I fell in love with this movie.

• Film C

  
  I really enjoyed this, robert downey jr looks gorgeous and is fantastic. This movie is hilarious and interesting and completely watchable! The storyline is great and funny, a wealthy teen gets expelled from all of his privqate schools and ends up in a ppublic school where he meets… More
  I really enjoyed this, robert downey jr looks gorgeous and is fantastic. This movie is hilarious and interesting and completely watchable! The storyline is great and funny, a wealthy teen gets expelled from all of his privqate schools and ends up in a ppublic school where he meets kat denning and starts liking her but he also sells prescription drugs to troubled teens, this story is funny and completey worth a watch!

• John H

  
  "Why did you do that?" "I thought you were going to kill yourself." "I can't kill myself. I have too many responsibilities." Downey Jr. had a great but limited performance in this. All his actions came off with subtle humor and you… More
  "Why did you do that?" "I thought you were going to kill yourself." "I can't kill myself. I have too many responsibilities." Downey Jr. had a great but limited performance in this. All his actions came off with subtle humor and you can't decide if you feel sorry for him or think he's an asshole. The other keene charcter in this was Kip. another cut short. Those were the only highlights. Otherwise, it was a genertic teen-flick. Nothing too different from the average teenage point of view was left out or changed. The acting wasn't convincing, the drama wasn't expressive completely noticable, and the charcters weren't filmed with enough delovepment, background or insight. A film like this is easily left aside and forgotten. I kept calling this by different names: Charlie Bucket (<i>Willy Wonka</i>), Charlie Babbit (<i>Rain Man</i>), or Charlie Barrly. The script is fine and tries envolving the look of any single student from any sort of hugh school clique. I still find this as a rental waiting to mistaken for a John Hughes production.

• Chris G

  
  Charlie Bartlett is about Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin), a prep school failure who bucks the system by doing bad things. After being thrown out of another school he ends up at a public school whose principal (Robert Downey, Jr.) is a dish rag and the principals daughter (Kat… More
  Charlie Bartlett is about Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin), a prep school failure who bucks the system by doing bad things. After being thrown out of another school he ends up at a public school whose principal (Robert Downey, Jr.) is a dish rag and the principals daughter (Kat Dennings) who Charlie falls for. He becomes a BMOC after becoming the school shrink and pill dispenser due to his dysfunctional families various shrinks and doctors. His hopes of becoming a superstar at school are fulfilled but at what cost. Let's be perfectly honest. This film is Rushmore, just not as funny. This is what is called a "teen angst" film. What exactly is Charlie's angst? Sure they explain that he never had the chance to grow up, but it seems like he's been having a good time otherwise. He doesn't even seem that pissed off. The other teenagers have angst, but it's directed at camera in the class of '83 love shack. They're lucky to have that. The entire school's medicated, why are they all pissed off. Oh, they riot when the drugs are gone? So what this film amounts to is that we all need to be heavily medicated. Nice. Robert Downey, Jr. and Kat Dennings are the only two redeeming things about this film. Otherwise , it's trash. I was hoping for a film with a soul, but this crap has nothing. A pure disappointment. (just a note that the DVD release advertised that this film starred "Ironman's Robert Downey, Jr." Obviously the studio didn't have much faith in it either)

• Jose Z

  
  Charlie Bartlett is a good movie, nothing spectacular but it fulfilled my expectations very well. It is a very well written comedy with the perfect amount of drama. It is funny but not because its full of jokes or gags, the humor of this movie is a consequence of the situations in it.… More
  Charlie Bartlett is a good movie, nothing spectacular but it fulfilled my expectations very well. It is a very well written comedy with the perfect amount of drama. It is funny but not because its full of jokes or gags, the humor of this movie is a consequence of the situations in it. The plot about a wealthy teen (Yelchin) goes to a new public high school and ingratiates himself into its social fabric by using his charm to become the school's resident "psychiatrist" is good, its like a glimpse of how teenagers live nowadays. The cast composed entirely by young actors with the exception of Downey Jr. is good and they acted well. Robert Downey was good, Anton Yelchin in the role of Charlie, his performance was great. He was a excellent complement for Downey Jr. The rest of the cast like Kat Dennings and Hope Davis were a great support for the movie. In conclusion, this is an entertaining movie that is worthy just to watch Downey Jr. and Yelchin acting together.

• Mark H

  
  Coming of age film about high school life is clearly influenced by Ferris Bueller's Day off, but while that film was light and funny, this comedy drama takes on teen suicide and drug abuse to make a film wildly uneven in tone.

• Bannan i

  
  Review TBA.

• Cassie H

  
  I knew I would like this movie and guess what? I LOVED it Charlie Bartlett is so cool and so CUTE:) I DEFINITLY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS A GOOD LAUGH AND A MEANINGFUL MOVIE!!!!

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