Paper thin charm
– A charming, earnest coming-of-age infatuation story that features a very good cast but nevertheless lacks heft and zing. Arriving so soon after the excellent “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,” it can”t help but pale in comparison but that’s not really fair. There are elements to enjoy here including a wonderful cast and the chemistry between the trio of boys. The film does dabble in the familiar tropes (neighborhood party intoxication antics) but the film is careful to respect its characters and continues a good trend in these types of films that high school kids can be articulate and responsible.
(Rated PG-13 for language, drinking, sexuality, partial nudity.)
Grade: B-
Bruce Bennett Short Bio
Bruce Bennett has been the primary contributor to Mad About Movies since it began in 2003. He is an award winning film and theater critic who, since 2000, has been writing a weekly column in The Spectrum daily newspaper in southern Utah as well as serving as a contributing editor of “The Independent,” a monthly entertainment magazine. He is also the co-host of “Film Fanatics” a movie review show which earned a Telly in 2009. Bruce is also a featured contributor at: RottenTomatoes.com
His motto: "I see bad movies so you don't have to."