A modern update of something between Risky Business and Ferris Bueller's Day Off? Hot topics galore (e.g. youth medication, exploitation of violence), but the focus remains on 'The Great Adventures of Charlie', keeping those things fairly shallow and casual. Of course, the movie makes a point (eventually), but it is still all about Charlie*; 'I'm just a kid!' Uh-huh, as would any psychologist mumble, in this case while probably scribbling: 'Not very moving or believable, nor have I been LMAO, in spite of some fresh ideas.'The acting is fine, but I'm no fan of Yelchin and I'm afraid I'll never be - Downey and Hope save the day in that respect. All in all quite bleak.* Of course, considering the title, I could have known...

An enjoyable little flick that is difficult to put a finger on which age group would appreciate it most. All-in-all, it is a semi-dark comedy with some romantic undertones and drama; similar to that of Wes Anderson's 'Rushmore.' The protagonist, Charlie Bartlett, gives a good look at how even the most wealthy, private school attending teens can still be troubled by separated parents, and more specifically the lack of an important male role model (Charlie's father is not seen throughout the entire film and it is hinted that he is incarcerated for one reason or anther...). Bartlett can really be viewed as someone with a real heart of gold, it's just that things go awry for him when he switches to a public school and changes from a preppy-dressed "nerd" so-to-speak, to "Mr. Cool" as he decides to take matters into his own hands and form a psychiatry station of his own in the student bathroom, where he reads up on, diagnoses, holds talk therapy sessions and medicates many of the kids in his school...When Charlie falls for a girl in his literature class, unaware she is the principal's (Robert Downey, Jr.) daughter (Kat Dennings), he is put in many awkward situations with the school's principal (who is an alcoholic, & also divorced) and the superintendent. Interestingly enough, as the plot unravels, Charlie becomes the school's revolutionary hero as he becomes the school's unofficial psychiatrist and peace maker.The storyline is fantastic, fun, and filled with edgy humor, finishing with a bittersweet ending and a warm-fuzzy feeling after some amends are made and lessons are learned. Truly a feel-good-hit of the decade & a more realistic take on teen life in the 2000's than PG-rated movies of the same genre (i.e. Miley Cyrus' chick-flick from 2010, "High School Musical," etc.)...I highly recommend the movie as it is one that will be a cult phenomenon in years to come as well as a modern-day classic. It has a great soundtrack, some realistic themes that teens wouldn't normally talk to their parents about and some fantastic acting. Love it or hate it, it is a pure look at teen life nowadays, no doubt about it. It's rare that a story with good morals and edgy humor make for a good plot, but this one seems to have hit the jackpot.A+

I can understand what direction it's trying to go but isn't all that absorbing. The plot is about not the average drug dealer and the main reason why he sells drugs is not because of the money but because of popularity. It's starts off alright but loses it's edge as the film progresses and becomes very narrow in a negative way. For a comedy it wasn't funny and the direction and pacing isn't well done, like I said I know what it's trying to do but doesn't really accomplishes that task. Also for the most part this is a very predictable movie with characters that are not memorable. The premise would have been alright but nothing is really absorbing or got my attention, but left me bored most of the way through. Maybe because of the dull and generic direction it takes, it isn't a terrible movie but there are better movies with a similar premise.5.8/10

I hate to write a bad review but, without the influence of Todd Phillips's "Road Trip", Wes Anderson's "Rushmore" and Hal Ashby's "Harold and Maude" this film would had never existed. Down to the use of songs like Eels - "Mr. E's Beautiful Blues" from "Road Trip" and "Harold & Maude's" Cat Steven's song "If You Wanna Be Free Be Free".It's pretty much been Done before.Here's a kid, who gets kicked out of an elite prep school, only to join a public school where he sports the garb of his previous schools crested jacket and signs up for a drama class and in the end, the play he created, will unite the characters to a happy ending.I've seen this before... My advice is to see the films I mentioned above first, than let me know if you agree with my review.