Iffy for 15+
Edgy high school comedy better for mature viewers.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this mature comedy about high school students is full of images of and references to pills, other drugs, beer, and liquor (all of which are used by the students, who also smoke). Characters discuss suicide, depression, and troubled parent-child relationships. There are images of brutal "fight videos" made by the students, a gun wielded by a potential suicide, and a raucous student demonstration. The hero loses his virginity (off screen, after some kissing scenes), and there's some strong language, including "f--k."
- Families can talk about the movie's messages about our "fast-fix" culture, in which drugs are prescribed to smooth over emotional or social problems. Do you agree with the statements the film is making? Which parts do you think are exaggerated for humor? Families can also discuss the tensions between Charlie and his parents. How does the principal become a surrogate father? How could the characters -- both kid and adult -- be more supportive and smart in dealing with each other?
What to watch for
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Violence: Bully menaces Charlie repeatedly. Kids make fight DVDs that show a bully beating Charlie and other students; includes images of bloody faces, kicks, and hits. A girl describes her father's threat to kill himself with a .38. Students' demonstration against surveillance cameras on campus leads to punching and scuffling. Principal holds a gun; Charlie assaults him to stop a seeming suicide, then they talk.
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Sex: Kisses between the primary couple, some in close-up, lead to Charlie's "first time" (the movie cuts from kissing to a post-sex shot showing his naked chest; he announces his loss of virginity at a party, and kids cheer). Mention of porn on the Internet. Some sexual language ("get your nana pierced," "p---y," "hooch," "vagina").
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Language: Several uses of "f--k," as well as "s--t" (some with "bull"), "bitch," "hell," "goddamn," and "ass." Other colorful phrases include "this school blows," "total tool," "I will take a massive steaming dump on your life," "bite me," and "you're a dick."
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Consumerism: The Clash poster in teenager's room.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: The movie has a thematic focus on drugs and alcohol: Mother drinks (wine) repeatedly and is sometimes visibly drunk. High school students smoke marijuana (and use slang like "roach"). Charlie is prescribed medication by his psychiatrist (Ritalin, Xanax, Zoloft, Prozac), then starts selling his pills to classmates. Reference to dropping acid; the principal drinks. News that a student overdosed on sedatives casts a pall on the school. Mother refers to college drug use; principal discusses his alcoholism. Frequent cigarette smoking by adults and high school students (Murphey in particular).
Fan Reviews provided by
3
Charlie Bartlett by leeloo53182
This movie was funny and cute. It was like an updated version a Ferris Bueller's day off. More of a rental than a big screen movie though.
2
Comedic, But Confused by kayleighms
Like its confused teenaged hero (Anton Yelchin), "Charlie Bartlett" seems to desire po****rity, but isn?t sure where its target audience lies. Screenwriter Gustin Nash and director Jon Poll have compiled an indecisive mishmash of cinematic styles and genres, from teen flick to indie film, and used them all. In its best moments - either comedic or dramatic - everything clicks, and you see the "Charlie Bartlett" that could have been. Unfortunately, they are too few and far between to sustain the movie.
3
Nice Theme - Expected it to better though by PakiHitMan Movie Goer
Well the theme was really awesome; I had been waiting for this movie for a while now and due to delays in releases I couldn't afford to go any later than opening day. Well I really enjoyed the idea because it's true that high school kids have problems and they need someone to talk to but this movie just didn't have much life in it past the mid-point. Climax? What climax? I don't know how others feel but I was really disappointed and thought that I could have been made better but it lacked finishing touches. If you want to go see it make sure you go to a matinee, otherwise you will be sad that you paid so much to see this.
4
Exactly the kind of movie we've been needing lately by tsunami009
Smart, new, innovative, funny, though not just a stupid teen movie even though it's based around high school. This movie is nothing epic like lord of the rings or indiana jones, but if you've been disappointed in movies lately like I have, you must see Charlie Bartlett.
5
Charlie Bartlett: Something Different by FadeToBlack88
To say this film is comparable to Juno would be only partially true in that it does have a high schooler trying to deal with things "way beyond [his] maturity level".
This film is a fresh take on life in high school and trying to fit in. Charlie has been kicked out of every private school he's attended because of his endeavor to be "po****r", which he goes about the wrong way. So the only option left is public school.
Getting a rough start he finally gets a foot in the door with his po****rity concept. Then when everything is hunky dory, it's about time everything comes crashing down. And well, it does.
But in the end, like an audience loves, we do have a good resolution.
If you want a funny, realistic, growing up movie this is it.
I wouldn't take your kids to watch it, there's language and brief nudity. I'd say, no one that hasn't gone through puberty yet should see it until a guardian has screened it.
Degrassi fans - five of your fav appear in this film, watch it for them.
3
Just OK by MNKCQ
Kind of a dark, feel good movie. The funny parts were really funny, unfortunately they were few and far between. It wasn't really what I was expecting.
4
Charlie Bartlett by crock1255
Fun to watch. Not haha funny, but smart, thoughtful and amusing
4
Charlie Bartlett by rcm3535
I nice film. It won't waste your time.
4
Cute and Funny by TMapou
As my title indicates, I found this movie to be cute and funny. It is not for everybody, as it is probably "hit or miss" for people 50 and older. It has a "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" quality to it, though I would say the couple of darker moments in this movie are definitely darker than those in "Bueller." Anton Yelchin was very sweet and charismatic in the title role. Hope Davis was quite good as his troubled mother. And Robert Downey, Jr. was very good in his performance as the alcoholic prin****l (although his acting contribution to one of the dark scenes, in particular, seemed a little too plausible to happen to him in real life). Not really getting much credit is Kat Denning's performance as "Susan Gardner"--the prin****l's daughter and Charlie's girlfriend. She reminded me of people I went to high school with and, delightfully, was not a little waif like so many young actresses today--she was not heavy, but a normal weight (and dark hair). Tyler Hilton was also enjoyable.
4
Charlie Bartlett by raymondo
Funny, intelligent, clever. Better than I expected in many ways. Got into a lot of issues of things kids are going through in High School, but also issues that parents are going through as well.