ViewGuide

Created Jul 31, 2009 08:58PM PST • Edited Jul 31, 2009 08:58PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   OK 2.5

   An original coming of age movie with a unique blend of humor, fantasy, and drama. Altar Boys follows a group of bored teenagers as they use pranks, wit, and creative dirty-comic book writing to get by in an oppressive Catholic school. Oh, and if you might take offense at a movie full of jabs at Catholic schools — this movie won’t be for you, for others, parts of that will be very funny. I found the movie to be entertaining, but perhaps not the most memorable. Good for a rainy Sunday.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Of all the kids, I liked Jena Malone (“Margie”) the best for her range, and the chemistry Emile Hirsch and her was very real. Jodi Foster fits surprisingly well as the stern and frustrated Sister Assumpta. Kieran Culkin (“Tim”) shows a great flair for drama. Would have liked to have seen more of Mike Harding (the dad) and Vincent D’Onofrio — both of whom deserved more than their token roles.

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

6. Female Stars Good 3.0

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

8. Male Costars Good 3.0

10. Film

    Barely OK 2.0

    So much potential with the blending of a coming of age story with humor and drama — but the execution leaves you wanting. The use of animation (“comic book style”) to convey Frances’ inner thoughts was creative, unfortunately, the quality of the animations didn’t surpass your run-of-the-mill Saturday morning series.

11. Direction Barely OK 2.0

12. Play Barely OK 2.0

13. Music Barely OK 2.0

14. Visuals Barely OK 2.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.0

17. Sex Titillating 2.0

    Reference to incest raised my eyebrows a bit.

18. Violence Fierce 2.0

19. Rudeness Salty 2.0

21. Reality

    Surreal 2.1

22. Circumstantial Surreal 2.1

23. Biological Surreal 2.1

24. Physical Surreal 2.1