“Charlie Bartlett” is the Breakfast Club for the Nexters’ generation, sure to follow as a high-school-drama favorite over countless retreads. 
Charlie Bartlett (Anton Yelchin) examines the problems facing adolescents in the modern, fast-paced, drug-prescribed, techno world of today.
Desperate to be an icon to his peers, Bartlett devises several methods to gain popularity before employing himself as the “psychiatrist” of his high school.
The wealthy, private-schooled 17-year-old befriends his bully, Murphey Bivens (Tyler Hilton), in order to begin distributing prescription drugs to the student body.
The two run a pharmacy out of the boys’ room, but soon draw Principal
Gardner’s (Robert Downey Jr.) suspicion.
The plot thickens as Bartlett begins dating Susan Gardner, the principal’s daughter, and her father’s patience is pushed to his limit.
Genuinely a good guy and benevolent listener, Bartlett wins the sympathy of audiences. However unique it is in its storyline, Bartlett has a somewhat monotonous conclusion.
Director Jon Poll makes a glorious return to motion pictures since directing “The Tree” (1982). Yelchin is amazing on screen in his first adult starring role.
Downey gives a dynamic performance as the far-from-composed adult figure.
Extraordinarily written (Gustin Nash), “Charlie Bartlett” gives an inspiring new take on the age-old question “Where do I fit in?”
Grossing just under $2-million since its release, “Charlie Bartlett” appears to be year’s best-kept secret.
Providing spectators with the occasional chuckle, “Charlie Bartlett” makes for a great comedy and ideal date movie, but may not be appealing to viewers of all ages.
