| Overall Grade: |
A |
|
| Story: |
A- |
|
|
| Acting: |
A |
|
|
| Direction: |
A- |
|
|
| Visuals: |
A |
|
|
Why Alan Bennett Still Has It
by DavidW (movies profile)
Jul 5, 2007
3
of
3 people found this review helpful
I am delighted this play has made it to the screen, so that millions more can see it. It is a coming of age story, with an Alan Bennett angle. No clumsy prom dates, no fights, no bullies, no drug addictions, no pregnancies - just a heavy dose of reality. The boys learn that school is not just for learning, but to understand how the game is played. If you don't know how to play the game, all the learning in the world will be for nothing. The fact that these are the best and the brightest doesn't stop them from having complex personalities, and gives the story a much higher intellectual plane. The jokes are literate, not gross and dumb. Our comedy heros all have become morons: Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, Will Ferrell... It has become far too rare to see heros who are intelligent and engaging instread of stumbling and stupid. This film might try to do too much; 12 main characters is a lot to develop in under two hours. A few of the boys get shortchanged because of it. And it is a play, with all the differences from film you already know about. So put that aside and enjoy a rare treat. |
My Public Profile 
