Charlie Bartlett (2007): Dir: Jon Poll / Cast: Anton Yelchin, Kat Dennings, Robert Downey Jr., Hope Davis, Tyler Hilton: Clever teen comedy about Charlie Bartlett who doesn't fit in at school. He tends to achieve trouble and finds a method of acceptance when he prescribes medication to those seeking answers to their troubled existence. Despite formula structure Jon Poll directs a film that addresses real issues in teenagers particularly difficulties in acceptance. This is Poll's only directing credit in some time and he shows great promise and potential particularly in creating broad teen personalities. Anton Yelchin plays Charlie as an adult in a teenager's body. He comes from a wealthy family yet becomes a funnel for those around him until he faces dire consequences. Robert Downey Jr. plays the principal who cannot relate to his daughter, and finds confrontation in Bartlett. Kat Dennings plays the principal's rebellious daughter who smokes but finds romance with Bartlett as well as an extra voice in her protest home life. Hope Davis steals scenes as Charlie's naïve mother in what would be standard material except for her comic input. Tyler Hilton plays the school bully who forms an alliance with Bartlett when a need is met. As with Election this film draws on heavy themes that its target audience may relate. The challenge of acceptance while growing up earn this film applause. Score: 9 / 10

It was very well written & the cast was spot on! It was a fun movie & kinda reminded me of a modern day "Breakfast Club" in a mild way. It was full of witty teenage angst & being misunderstood. I love Charlie's character, you really cant go wrong with Anton Yelchin. The other actors Robert Downey Jr.,Kat Dennings (amazing!!) & Hope Davis were also wonderful!! Kat is her normal sarcastic & smart self, Hope is very "Norma Bates" in her personal style, Robert was pretty good but not amazing. I still fell in love with the cast, especially the "bully" & well....all the supporting members. It was the kind of movie that made me miss High School...well, if that was how High School really was! Anywho I loved it & recommend it to everyone!!!

Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin) is a smart rich kid who is new to public school. He's been kicked out of every private school. His father is in prison. He gets picked on but feels above it all. He doesn't fit in until he starts selling his prescriptions to his fellow students. He starts diagnosing them as a self-proclaimed doctor. His mother (Hope Davis) is a mess. Susan (Kat Dennings) is principal Nathan Gardner (Robert Downey Jr.)'s daughter.I'm not usually a fan of Anton Yelchin. He always has a bit of a smirk. That's what comes across with this Charlie Bartlett. He's a bit smug and it's not appealing. He feels above everybody else. If you do it like Ferris Bueller, it's fun. This is not that. I suppose it's a smirky indie. It has its moments. It's nothing hilarious but I did smirk once or twice.

I would just like to say that the movie is great - I loved it. It cracked me up at times and made me sad at times. However, I'd just like to say (STRICTLY OPINIONATED) that it totally sucked and lacked emotion when Kat Dennings sang at the end. I believe it was supposed to make us sad and emotionally involved in the moment, heck, there was a lady crying in the movie (the one behind the suicidal kid) but in my opinion it was one of the worst moments in the movie that sort of killed the ending. Overall, I didn't really like Kat's performance in the movie and I believe they could have found someone better for the job. She is a good actress, and I liked her in other parts and have nothing against her, but to me, she didn't really bring out or represent the character she's playing in that movie; I didn't even understand her at first.. is she one of those negative, Gothic, black-wearing people (that's what she looked like) or is she the lover type? I honestly don't get it.