Review: ‘Charlie Bartlett’ on DVD

Ram Man:

Unless you are a true movie geek this one probably slipped by you like a thief in the night. Charlie Bartlett is out on DVD this week. This is a modern day high school angst movie that belongs in the class with Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin) is a little rich kid that has trouble fitting in at school. His mother attempts to cope with it by sending him to shrink after shrink to drug him into submission. The young enterpriser, Charlie decides he can carve his own niche in school by becoming a self appointed councilor for the school. Charlie sets up shop in the boys restroom , in a pair of “confessional” type toilet stalls. He soon has a line around the hall. Bartlett not only listens..he goes one further..he prescribes medication. Charlie brokers a deal with the school heavy for some of the scripts and protection and the rest he brings to his own shrinks and just gives the pills away. This is a very witty film with outstanding performances by Kat Dennings (40 Year Old Virgin) and Ironman himself… Robert Downey, Jr. as the troubled principal who tries to alleviate the students of all their human rights.

I saw this film last summer. It was finally released in the theaters last February for it seemed like a week. Don’t miss it again. The DVD is rated R for you guessed it… DRUGS and some language. there are no special features but the movie alone makes it worth adding to your library at home. Dr. Ram Man prescribes one DVD of Charlie Bartlett and 2 “cold ones” but don’t call me in the morning!

Check WAMG’s original reviews here!

[rating: 3.5/5]