Charlie Bartlett

by Aaron Helfferich · Published February 23, 2008

Charlie Bartlett isn’t your ordinary teenager. In fact, there’s probably never been anyone quite like him; at least since Ferris Bueller. Thanks to his unique personality and an impeccable ability to persuade just about anyone, Charlie Bartlett is the perfect candidate for a new take on the teen drama.

After being thrown out of a prestigious private high school, Charlie becomes the little rich kid thrown into a big dysfunctional public school. On his first day, Charlie is treated like any other unpopular outsider. As he finds a way to fit in, Charlie becomes a self-appointed psychiatrist, by using his family’s personal shrink to supply his fellow students with prescription drugs. With his newfound respect around school, Charlie becomes the go-to-guy for just about everything. However, that popularity may be short lived. With Principal Gardner taking notice to the drastic change in the student body, Charlie gets himself in more of a bind seeing that he’s dating the principal’s daughter.

At the core of the film is the relationship between Charlie and his new principal. Helping it stand out among other teen dramas are the stellar performances by Anton Yelchin as Charlie and Robert Downey Jr. as Principal Gardner. The interaction of these great talents impose a relationship that is not only important to each character, but is also praise-worthy as well. Here we see, in the places we least expect it, how even everyone needs help fitting in.

In large part, “Charlie Bartlett” is a film about finding your purpose in life. Like most teenage comedies, it can simply be seen as a film about fitting in. Luckily, “Charlie Bartlett” goes the extra mile in showcasing memorable characters and an admirable story that holds merit in its conclusion. For as long as Charlie believes it, it’s easy for us to believe it too.