The Class

When it comes to the elements of filmmaking, this drama fails every subject. It's a big reach to follow so closely in the footsteps of a generation-defining iconic classic, and writer-director Nicholas Celozzi doesn't pull it off. The premise -- six students must go to school on a Saturday to take their theater final -- is nonsensical. The reason why is never made clear, nor is it clear why the drama teacher gives them such an unusual assignment: Create a character, then pair up to improv a scene together.

The movie's title isn't kidding: Watching The Class can feel like sitting in a warm classroom listening to a droning instructor, especially when the students stand in front of the class to tell the others about the character they "invented." More than half of the teens just describe themselves. The film actually feels like it was written by a high school theater group, with each central character getting their "moment," an emotional monologue that looks ready-made for the actors to slap onto their sizzle reel. Unfortunately for the actors, their performances are undermined by loose editing and dizzying camera work. And while the characters have a certain familiarity -- including the "druggie" (Charlie Gillespie is '80s Matt Dillon meets Jeff Spicoli), the "beauty," the "richie," the "jock," and the "psycho" -- they have the charisma of a melting ice cube. Celozzi says the characters are based on the friends of his daughter (Juliette Celozzi, who plays Allie), but the dialogue seems more like a 50-year-old man's idea of how kids talk than how kids really talk. Yes, it's a kick to see Hall step into the vice principal role (and embody it so well!), but even fans of '80s teen films will find there's not much here for them either -- except for the new Debbie Gibson song that plays during the credits.