Emile Hirsch, Jake Richardson, Jena Malone

A group of Catholic school friends, after being caught drawing an obscene comic book, plan a heist that will outdo their previous prank and make them local legends.

Flixster Users

78% liked it

12,604 ratings

Critics

77% liked it

109 critics

R, 105 min.

Directed by: Peter Care

Release Date: June 14, 2002

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: November 5, 2002

Stats: 745 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Your Rating



clear rating
Share on: Facebook Twitter

Flixster Reviews (745)


  • June 8, 2008
    Th Dangerous lives of alter boys is a suprisingly great coming of age film which I happened to catch on film4 last night by chance, and what a treat it was.
    The story focuses on four teen boys lin the 1970's led by Francis(Emile Hirsh) and Tim(Kieran Culkin) who study at a stri...( read more)ct catholic school under the tough regimes of Sister Assumpta(Jodie Foster). As a way to escape the rules and oppression suffered at the school the boys participate in pranks and all sorts of msicheif. Their main form of escape is their comic book, Atomic Trinity. Each of the characters in the comic represent one of the boys from Major Screw to Captain ass kicker, there's even a character representation of sister assumpta as their evil nemesis Peg Leg.
    On one particular school field trip the boys hatch a plan to steal a cougar and place it in Assumpta's office, a little unbeliveable yes but its great to see the effort and imagination the boys put into the idea.
    What's so wonderful about this film is not only are you watching a conventional form of storytelling but thrown into the mix is segments from the boys comic in animation, brilliantly done(I'd nearly watch a full movie based on the animation alone).
    A great coming of age movie with alot of heart, if you liked stand by me you'll love this
  • May 13, 2008
    Refreshing film about best friends who dream of living out their lives like the comic books they're obsessed with. Great acting from all involved, especially D'Onofrio, who plays the coolest priest in history.
  • July 17, 2007
    This movie utilizes many vehicles to convey its messages. Children, the church, animation, death, incest, hypocrisy...All of this is tied into a coming of age story focusing primarily on two boys and one girl. It shows the struggles that we go through in those formative stages in...( read more) order to simply be and the pressures and moral quandaries that we all deal with personified in a young person's world. The characters are aspiring comic book artists and many times the movie breaks into extended animated scenes. While these can be fun to watch (or distracting to some as it was for my wife) they are an integral part of the film. Each animated vignette carefully describes the current mindset of each character within and allows the viewer to see the mind at work played out through an animated avatar. This movie does have some comedic moments that will make you laugh out loud. Equally there are more moments that will make you reflect and perhaps even become a bit saddened at times. It is a sleeper gem. Enjoy
  • February 10, 2007
    This is a cute movie that, while it never reaches the realm of excellence, is a very enjoyable ride - for the most part. Its a story about a group of Catholic boys and their struggle with the oppressive authority figure(s) hanging over their heads. One of the main things I drew f...( read more)rom it though was how extreme their actions were, when it wasn't called for - what happens to Kieran Culkin's character is a prime example of this. As such this serves as a theater for the folly of youth, and it definitely works in that way. There are some very interesting ideas at work here - for example the parallel narrative of the comic-book heroes drawn by the main character (in cartoon form alongside and reflecting the main narrative). That part of it really separated this from any other movie, though I'm not sure how much it added in the long run. There were some neat camera tricks used, as well. The one thing that was abundantly clear after watching this movie was that it is made for a specific age group or generation - even at age 20 I found it hard to relate to the teenage characters. However, its still a good movie with some good acting (Vincent D'Onofrio represent! even though he's underused), and I recommend watching it.
  • January 21, 2007
    really good fuckin movie
  • November 8, 2009
    An excellent movie, especially with a young cast and first time director! The mixture of animation and real life was really cool. Definatly a great movie!
  • November 6, 2009
    Tanto amore per Emile e Jena piccini, ma niente di che.
  • August 6, 2009
    you know when i hear the words "dangerous lives of altar boys" i gotta admit i dont think of comic books
  • July 28, 2009
    Great stuff from way back
  • July 25, 2009
    Based on the amazing novel, Hirsch and Culkin are captivating as two rebellious teenagers with a plan...that goes horribly wrong.

Critic Reviews


June 21, 2002
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

If Dangerous Lives errs, it's in trying to do too much in 105 minutes. full review

June 21, 2002
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

A fine, inventive '70s period piece about friendship, first love, and growing up to face the hard lessons of life. full review

June 21, 2002
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It tries too hard, and overreaches the logic of its own world. full review

June 14, 2002
Claudia Puig, USA Today

A sensitive and originally executed film. full review

June 14, 2002
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Undone by simply trying too hard. full review

June 5, 2002
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

First-time director Peter Care crafts something darkly funny and touching. full review

View more The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Official Trailer

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Saved!
    Saved! (58%)
  • Dear Wendy
    Dear Wendy (0%)
  • The Mudge Boy
    The Mudge Boy (67%)
  • My Girl
    My Girl (26%)

Facts


No facts approved yet. Be the first

The Dangerous Liv... : Watch Free on TV


The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys Trivia


  • In which film does Jodie Foster play a nun?  Answer »
  • small roles in Home Alone, this actor's career has been nothing like his brother's. his most recent films include The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys and Igby Goes Down.  Answer »
  • In which movie was, "all bones and no bullshit" said.  Answer »
  • Which actor starred in imaginary heroes, the dangerous lives of altar boys and lords of dogtown.  Answer »

Movie Quizzes


No quizzes for The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys. Want to create one?

Recent News


No recent headlines. Got one?

Most Popular Skin


No skins yet. Interested in creating one?