Charlie Bartlett (R, 2008)
common sense media says
Edgy high school comedy better for mature viewers.
parents & educators say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this mature comedy about high school students is full of images of and references to pills, other drugs, beer, and liquor (all of which are used by the students, who also smoke). Characters discuss suicide, depression, and troubled parent-child relationships. There are images of brutal "fight videos" made by the students, a gun wielded by a potential suicide, and a raucous student demonstration. The hero loses his virginity (off screen, after some kissing scenes), and there's some strong language, including "f--k."
Violence:
Bully menaces Charlie repeatedly. Kids make fight DVDs that show a bully beating Charlie and other students; includes images of bloody faces, kicks, and hits. A girl describes her father's threat to kill himself with a .38. Students' demonstration against surveillance cameras on campus leads to punching and scuffling. Principal holds a gun; Charlie assaults him to stop a seeming suicide, then they talk.
Sex:
Kisses between the primary couple, some in close-up, lead to Charlie's "first time" (the movie cuts from kissing to a post-sex shot showing his naked chest; he announces his loss of virginity at a party, and kids cheer). Mention of porn on the Internet. Some sexual language ("get your nana pierced," "p---y," "hooch," "vagina").
Language:
Several uses of "f--k," as well as "s--t" (some with "bull"), "bitch," "hell," "goddamn," and "ass." Other colorful phrases include "this school blows," "total tool," "I will take a massive steaming dump on your life," "bite me," and "you're a dick."
Consumerism:
The Clash poster in teenager's room.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
The movie has a thematic focus on drugs and alcohol: Mother drinks (wine) repeatedly and is sometimes visibly drunk. High school students smoke marijuana (and use slang like "roach"). Charlie is prescribed medication by his psychiatrist (Ritalin, Xanax, Zoloft, Prozac), then starts selling his pills to classmates. Reference to dropping acid; the principal drinks. News that a student overdosed on sedatives casts a pall on the school. Mother refers to college drug use; principal discusses his alcoholism. Frequent cigarette smoking by adults and high school students (Murphey in particular).
More on Charlie Bartlett
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Most useful reviews by all members
thefalconater
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
it's appropriate parents, so chill out
I honestly hate it when adults say movies such as this aren't age appropriate for teenagers. There is absolutely nothing in this movie that any highschooler hasn't seen or been exposed to before. Overall I felt like this movie was fantastic. The characters were well-developed and interesting and the story was unique. If you are debating on whether to watch this or not, GO FOR IT. You won't be at all sorry you did.
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JamesRobertson
parent of and 7 , 11 , 14 , 17 year old
parent of and 7 , 11 , 14 , 17 year old
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captain8ball
adult
adult
SM, if you say that this movie is OFF for anyone under 18 then you are obviously ignorant of high school life. Do you even have a teenage child? This movie was a masterpiece dramedy. Yes, i will admit that there were some parts that may be inappropriate but I can almost 100% assure you that EVERY teenager hears and probably talks about these things every single day at school. I think anyone in high school could see this movie and should. It deals with some really important issues and it shows how people handle them..maybe not always in a good way..but they learn from their mistakes. I am 16 and I watched this movie with my mom. My mom is very iffy about watching movies and she hates the "f" word and drugs and there was not that much "f" word use in this movie anyway and the parts with drugs weren't presented as kids using them (at least the prescription drugs) to get high. The kids truly needed help and they were too scared to go to their judgmental parents to ask for it (which i'm sorry to say is a big problem today). If you are in high school, see this movie, it will make you think about your life in a positive way.
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stacymavros
adult
adult
ADULTS ONLY
Not, not, not for anyone under 18...interesting and entertaining for adults. Acting was very good all around--Robery Downey Jr is certainly back--he's fantastic--all the younger actors were spot on. Storyline is both funny and serious. Solid but no award winning here. Violence, sex, drug use....again, this one is NOT FOR KIDS.
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MissParkerP
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
Good for kids in high school if they understand the characters aren't role models
This is a great movie, but not for younger teens. It captures the teenage feeling and the moments. Downey is fantastic.
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Ldude407
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
GREAT MOVIE! mature 14+
This was a amazing movie! Great acting! It is about a boy faking metal problems to sell drugs at school. There is some school bullying as in punching and swirly's. There is some language but it can be handled by mature 14+. There is also a sort of "sex" scene. It does not show any nudity, but just kissing. When they are done he tells the school it was his "first time" which tells you it was sex.
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go_charlie
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
Charlie Bartlett is amazing... said by my whole family.
I went to this movie with my dad and stepmom. All of us agreed that it was one of the best movies this year. All these other reviews said it was so inappropriate but this was less than other movies. A little bit of cursing is not that bad. It had one or two scenes where a few kids were smoking some weed but the scene does not revolve around it. There is pill usage and cigarettes. Are legal cigarettes that innapropritate for a 13 or 14 year old to watch being smoked??? There is 2 parts where suicide is attempted but its not graphic. It may not be appropriate for everyone but it is a must see and isn't as innapropriate as said. Anton Yelchin and Tyler Hilton were amazing in this movie. It is a comedy with a message and is wildly entertaining. If you want a good, touching movie mixed with comedy... see this movie.
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