Wealthy teenager Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin), after being expelled from several private academies for various infractions, enrolls in a public school run by embittered alcoholic Principal Nathan Gardner (Robert Downey, Jr.).
Unable to fit-in with most of his fellow students, Charlie forms an alliance with school bully Murphy Bivens (Tyler Hilton) and offers him half the proceeds from the sale of a variety of prescription drugs Charlie obtains by feigning physical and emotional symptoms during sessions with different psychiatrists.
Before long, his natural charm and likability positions him as the school’s resident therapist, who offers advice within the confines of the boys’ bathroom. Charlie’s social life noticeably improves as he gains the confidence and admiration of the student body and begins to date the principal’s rebellious daughter, Susan (Kat Dennings).
Complications arise when seriously depressed Kip Crombwell (Mark Rendall) attempts suicide by swallowing a handful of anti-depressants provided by Charlie. Charlie befriends Kip after having an in-depth conversation with Principal Gardner.
Charlie discovers Kip is writing a play about adolescent issues and pitches it to Gardner who is, at first, unsure but agrees when Kip says that it would make him happier with life. The students then have trouble with the student lounge; security cameras get installed, and they start a riot.
The main characters are superbly played. Yelchin is adorable, and has quite the emotional range not to mention his facial expressions range. I hope he gets to play more roles like this one, because the boy sure has a lot of talent – both for comedy and drama. Robert Downey Jr. is a class unto himself and needs no superlatives. Suffice to say he does what he does best – portraying a character with problems, a little bit unsure of himself, a little bit wrong about stuff and possessing a lot of inner strength. The other members of the cast are forgettable, but never disappoint.
Director: Jon Poll
Year of Release: 2007
Character to watch: Anton Yelchin as Charlie Bartlett.
Journal your answers to the following questions after you watch the movie.
- How does this particular character’s journey compare with yours?
- Did the character develop certain characteristics during the movie that you have or that you would like to have? If so, what are those characteristics?
- What obstacles did this character face? What was his or her biggest challenge?
- What would you have done differently if you had been in the same position as the character?
- Is this character the type of person you would be friends with? Why or why not?