Fu Manchu Films

Superbad has left the building. The success of the Judd Apatow comedies (40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and Superbad) has created a new definition of the R-rated comedy. Despite such a precedent, first-time director Jon Poll, a producer on Virgin, seeks to find his own groove with the recent release of Charlie Bartlett.

The movie centers around the entrepreneurial escapades of wealthy prep-school reject Charlie Bartlett, played by 19-year-old Anton Yelchin. The movie focuses on his influence on his high school contemporaries, his overwhelmed mother, and his aging, alcoholic, and disrespected principal (portrayed expertly by Hollywood veteran Robert Downey Jr.).

In an interview with the Sharon High School Talon the freshman director reported “what I liked about Charlie is it had humor, heart, and something on its mind.” Humor indeed. The handful of critics at an advanced screening last month laughed riotously when Charlie auditioned for Shakespeare’s Henry V with a monologue about a teenage girl getting her first period.

Before this project Poll was a longtime film editor behind such successes as the Meet the Parents, and Austin Powers series, working extensively with director/producer Jay Roach. Poll said the jump between jobs went smoothly because “editing [is] a closer job to directing than being a cinematographer.” Poll expanded that “the editor’s main job is to find the moments of humanity that will register to an audience.”

Poll reflected with pride on his previous work as an editor, saying “from my point of view comedy is the most difficult, because there’s nothing sadder than being in an audience and having a joke be put up there and fail.”

Poll, a graduate of USC film school, advised young filmmakers that “no job is too small, don’t ever feel bad about getting anyone a cup of coffee… work as hard as you can, learn as much as you can…one of the beauties of Hollywood is that the guy who’s getting your coffee today, will have a script get made next year.”

Yelchin portrays a breed of teenager rarely seen in movies: one whose morals transcend the temptations offered by sex and drugs. Charlie’s principles shine through in his willingness to acknowledge responsibility. By accepting his consequences, Charlie veers away from the prototypical, pessimistic teenage caricature.

Bringing such a character to screen was writer Gustin Nash’s primary objective. Nash’s inspiration came from teenagers he met while working in the Burbank mall. The teens complained that they were misrepresented in most films, so “he set out to make a movie that showed them some respect, and that’s something that we continued all the way through” said director Jon Poll.

And that’s exactly what Charlie delivers. Those seeking a feel-good movie with backbone will be rewarded kindly with the most meaningful teen comedy to hit cinemas in recent years. All in all Charlie leaves you with a sense of accomplishment, as if you yourself have overcome the pitfalls that plague the lives of these teens. Well worth the $8.