This movie is about high school students but it isn't really a movie for kids that age. It has a bit darker theme and unfortunately treats sex among high school students very casually. I believe it gives a harmful message in that respect.
But looking beyond that, it is a very interesting and entertaining movie. Anton Yelchin is rich kid Charlie Bartlett, and as the story begins he gets kicked out of yet another private school. This forces him to go to a public high school. His first day, he decides to ride the bus so maybe he will "fit in" better, but he goes dressed in his slacks, blazer, and a tie. Not too cool. So he gets picked on from the start.
But all Charlie wants is to be popular, and all of his schemes seem to revolve around that concept. At his new school he stumbles upon a way to become popular and off he goes. But not without more trouble ahead.
Hope Davis is his mother Marilyn Bartlett. Interestingly she also played Yelchin's mother some years ago in "Hearts in Atlantis" with Anthony Hopkins.
Robert Downey Jr. is superb as the high school Principal Nathan Gardner. He clearly struggles with trying to keep the students in line. He doesn't like trouble-makers. And coincidentally he is the father of female student Kat Dennings as Susan Gardner. Charlie and Susan are destined to be together and that results in much of the drama as the story unfolds.
Tyler Hilton is good as the bully Murphey Bivens who initially gives Charlie lots of grief but later teams up with him.
SPOILERS: Charlie seems to be a naturally gifted businessman and also a very good listener. His dad is not present, serving prison time for tax evasion. But Charlie's "business" enterprises are illegal. In private school he was making very good fake IDs. In his new school he realizes he can become popular by holding "office hours" in the boys bathroom, he and the "patient" sitting in adjacent stalls, just listening and talking to them. But when he goes to various doctors with fake emotional problems, to get various prescription medicines to sell to the students, he went way too far and also illegal.
The story plays out, there is the conflict with the principal, who gets fired in the process, but Charlie it seems finally learns that he doesn't have to try so hard to be friends, and that channeling his energy into legal, productive activities is the best way to live.
But looking beyond that, it is a very interesting and entertaining movie. Anton Yelchin is rich kid Charlie Bartlett, and as the story begins he gets kicked out of yet another private school. This forces him to go to a public high school. His first day, he decides to ride the bus so maybe he will "fit in" better, but he goes dressed in his slacks, blazer, and a tie. Not too cool. So he gets picked on from the start.
But all Charlie wants is to be popular, and all of his schemes seem to revolve around that concept. At his new school he stumbles upon a way to become popular and off he goes. But not without more trouble ahead.
Hope Davis is his mother Marilyn Bartlett. Interestingly she also played Yelchin's mother some years ago in "Hearts in Atlantis" with Anthony Hopkins.
Robert Downey Jr. is superb as the high school Principal Nathan Gardner. He clearly struggles with trying to keep the students in line. He doesn't like trouble-makers. And coincidentally he is the father of female student Kat Dennings as Susan Gardner. Charlie and Susan are destined to be together and that results in much of the drama as the story unfolds.
Tyler Hilton is good as the bully Murphey Bivens who initially gives Charlie lots of grief but later teams up with him.
SPOILERS: Charlie seems to be a naturally gifted businessman and also a very good listener. His dad is not present, serving prison time for tax evasion. But Charlie's "business" enterprises are illegal. In private school he was making very good fake IDs. In his new school he realizes he can become popular by holding "office hours" in the boys bathroom, he and the "patient" sitting in adjacent stalls, just listening and talking to them. But when he goes to various doctors with fake emotional problems, to get various prescription medicines to sell to the students, he went way too far and also illegal.
The story plays out, there is the conflict with the principal, who gets fired in the process, but Charlie it seems finally learns that he doesn't have to try so hard to be friends, and that channeling his energy into legal, productive activities is the best way to live.