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| Charlie Bartlett | 
 enlarge | Actors: Hope Davis, Jr. Robert Downey, David Fraser, Derek Mcgrath, Stephen Young
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Category: DVD
List Price: $27.98
Buy New: $7.50
You Save: $20.48 (73%)
New (48) Used (33) from $7.39
Avg. Customer Rating:  22 reviews
Sales Rank: 1946
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 97
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: M110775
UPC: 883904107750
EAN: 0883904107750
ASIN: B00175VSBC
Theatrical Release Date: February 22, 2008
Release Date: June 24, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
The ghost of Ferris Bueller haunts Charlie Bartlett. In John Hughes' classic comedy, a wily principal chases a clever student all over Chicago. In editor-turned-director Jon Poll's darker-hued enterprise, the hero of the title (Huff's preternaturally poised Anton Yelchin) gets kicked out of private school for selling fake IDs, so his heavily-medicated mother (a reliably excellent Hope Davis) transfers her son to a public institution. Looking like a junior stockbroker in navy blazer and attache case, he turns into a bully pinata, until he joins forces with surly dealer Murphey (Walk the Line's Tyler Hilton) to sell prescription medication and split the profits (Charlie secures the meds from an assortment of pill-pushing psychiatrists). By listening to their problems and offering well-researched advice, the unlicensed doc becomes the most popular kid on campus. He even captures the interest of self-possessed drama queen Susan (The 40-Year-Old Virgin's Kat Dennings), daughter of booze-soaked Principal Gardner (Robert Downey Jr. in top form). Gardner doesn't trust Charlie, but lacks the evidence to confirm his suspicions--so he sets out to secure some. Once he installs surveillance cameras, the game is on. By the end, the two competitors will have both lost... and won. Aside from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Charlie Bartlett recalls Wes Anderson's Rushmore, except Poll's Gustin Nash-penned satire trades counter-cultural cool for trenchant commentary about quick-fix solutions to deep-seated dilemmas. That means fewer laughs than its forerunners, but Charlie Bartlett presents a more penetrating analysis of today's generation gap. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Beyond Charlie Bartlett 
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Product Description
The kids at Western Summit High have "issues" and newcomer Charlie Bartlett is coming to their rescue. With a briefcase full of prescription pills and a head full of pop psychology this rebel with a cause brings hilarious help to the student body and unending grief to their neurotic principal Mr. Gardner (Robert Downey Jr.). Suddenly Charlie is the hottest man on campus and he's even caught the eye of Gardner's sultry daughter. An outrageous send-up of today's Prozac generation Charlie Bartlett has your prescription for laugh-out-loud insanity!System Requirements:Running Time: 97 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY/SCHOOL DAYS Rating: R UPC: 883904107750 Manufacturer No: M110775
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| Customer Reviews: Read 17 more reviews...
 Just Awful August 15, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I generally do not post reviews on Amazon, but I'll be honest, I was absolutely shocked to see so many favorable (and even mediocre) reviews for this film, so I felt compelled to refute them.
This film is just awful, with the only redeeming aspect being Robert Downey Jr. Anton Yelchin is beyond irritating as the title character, Hope Davis overplays his mother to the point of nausea, and the script is just ludicrous. With the exception of Downey Jr., the overacting in this film literally gave me a headache.
With a story as absurd as the one presented in Charlie Bartlett, one might expect a sort of understated direction from helmer Jon Poll; a subtle vision that downplays the more ridiculous elements (and there are plenty of them) of the script. Instead, Poll unwisely accentuates them in a lavish form that makes us feel like we're watching some alternate reality where the rules of common sense, tact and prescription drugs do not apply.
I won't even get into the absurdities associated with the procurement of prescription drugs in mass quantities or the incredible speed at which relationships develop in this movie. Suspension of disbelief is something I have no problem doing with regards to film, as long as there is entertainment value behind it. This movie was, quite simply, obnoxious, and easily one of the worst films of the year.
 People like you are the reason people like me need medication August 14, 2008
15 out of 16 found this review helpful
This smokes Juno! Not necessarily real believable, but it is a funny, clever high school comedy. Just a notch below the classics Sixteen Candles and Ferris Bueller.
Charlie is just another teenager trying to fit in. A rich kid actually, expelled from numerous prep schools for different reasons. Now at public school, he gains instant notoreity as the prescription drug dealer.
This has lots of teenage angst, insecurities, family drama, and other uncertainties which are often the side effects of growing up. Robert Downey Jr. is great as the alcoholic principal.
This movie is realistic with its look at relationships. Kids feeling isolated, disconnected from parents, having trouble making friends, suffering from depression. There is a school bully that videotapes his fights and later sells his DVD "Greatest Afterschool Beatdowns". 2 funny, he even gives his victims a portion of the profits.
All in all, not a bad comedy. The wife made me watch it, and I actually stayed awake for the whole thing.
Entertaining little film. August 13, 2008
Charlie Bartlett has a difficult time making friends. As he moves from one private school to another, by the time he finally begins to become popular he is expelled. The problem is that his popularity comes from doing something illegal. Charlie, ever the opportunist, has a creative and entrepreneurial mind for providing things that high school students should not have. As is the way (generally) with high school students, what they can't have is what they are willing to pay for. And Charlie will accept that risk to be popular. Now he has been kicked out of every private school and is left with only one option: public school. A series of events lead Charlie to his next big idea: provide a little medication and a lot of opportunity to unburden themselves of their problems. And just like that, Charlie Bartlett began helping fellow students cope with their problems...from the boy's bathroom.
Anton Yelchin stars as the movie's title character. He, if you have seen it, is the kidnapped boy in the movie Alpha Dog. In both movies he plays a charming, though slightly awkward, young man. While I am worried that he wouldn't be as successful in a more mature role, I think he was a great casting choice to be Charlie Bartlett.
The story was a little hokey. The characters were a little cliche. I concede those two points, but still contend that this is a good movie. I enjoyed how the movie did not shy away from those things, but rather embraced them. In fact, without cliche students in a hokey story, Charlie Bartlett would have been unable to effectuate change in so many lives. (I hope it doesn't disappoint you that there is a social message wrapped neatly within this movie.)
 Insantly a favorite August 10, 2008
I just watched this film and I loved it. There was an interesting story line that wasn't one bit predictable, excellent actors who all played parts true to their actual ages, and parents who were not only interesting but also fundamental to the story line just as much as their kids. I want to re-watch it right now it was that good. This is classified as a comedy, but it's also a drama. There are true characters who you really care about and want to see how their troubles will be resolved. I urge people of all age to watch this film. It's instantly one of my favorites. I'm a bit sad the movie is over because I'm not ready to say goodbye to such great characters
The Besa Of high school August 2, 2008
This is a great movie about how a high school kid tries to grow up too fast. And it great seeing Robert Downey Jr. in his role as the principle. For so long he's played the rebel, it's great to see him at the other end of the stick, and he does a great job
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