Hope Davis and Anton Yelchin in Charlie Bartlett (MGM)
Charlie Bartlett (opening February 22 throughout San Diego) had been scheduled to open last August. Now it’s definitely not a great film but it certainly isn’t bad enough to merit being put on the shelf for almost a year gathering dust. Considering the crap the studios have been releasing recently, Charlie Bartlett at least displays some appealing spunk and an energetic attempt to be original.Dysfunction might be the operative – or is that non-operative – word for the world of Charlie Bartlett. Nothing works well here, especially not people and relationships. Charlie’s family is seriously dysfunctional -- father is M.I.A. and his mom (Hope Davis) doesn’t quite inhabit this world. Charlie’s been thrown out of all the private schools his mom has paid top dollar to try and keep him in. And the public school he’s being sent to is run by an alcoholic principal who can’t control the student body or his rebellious daughter. Plus, the students are all out of whack over the security cameras being installed in the student lounge.
