Add It to the List of Films That Make Me Glad I Never Have to Relive High School

Rating: 7/10 (15 April 2013)

A solid coming of age film about a misfit high school freshman who finds his niche in a clique of alternative seniors.
The version of high school portrayed in this film does not remotely resemble anything I personally experienced in high school, and the film does push the boundaries of credibility a bit in having us believe that these sophisticated martini drinkers are 17 and 18 year olds. And are there that many places in the country where high schoolers are allowed to perform live to the local movie theatre's showings of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show?" (Or at least allowed to perform it wearing that little clothing?) But I could forgive the film much because it's clearly an adult's ruminations on high school filtered through the lens of adulthood, and as we've all experienced, our memories of things do not always closely match the facts of the things we're remembering.
The three young actors at the film's center -- Logan Lerman, Ezra Miller and Emma Watson (of Harry Potter fame) -- give very good performances, but it's Lerman in particular who's the stand out. The film wouldn't be anywhere nearly as successful as it is without him.
Grade: B+