Review: Rocket Science

Rocket Science (2007)

Directed by: Jeffrey Blitz

Synopsis (Rotten Tomatoes): Jeffrey Blitz (2002's SPELLBOUND) directs this comedy that follows in the footsteps of teen outsider indies such DONNIE DARKO, THUMBSUCKER, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, and RUSHMORE. Set in New Jersey, the film follows Hal Hefner (impressive... Jeffrey Blitz (2002's SPELLBOUND) directs this comedy that follows in the footsteps of teen outsider indies such DONNIE DARKO, THUMBSUCKER, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, and RUSHMORE. Set in New Jersey, the film follows Hal Hefner (impressive newcomer Reese Thompson) in his attempts to go through high school unnoticed. This is made considerably harder by his obvious stutter and inability to verbalize even the most basic statements, not to mention his thoughts and feelings. Bringing him no help are his strange and abusive older brother Earl (Vincent Piazza), his recently divorced parents, his mother's live-in boyfriend, and his school's inadequate speech therapist. When the school's bossy, attractive debate champion Ginny Ryerson (Anna Kendrick) tries to recruit Hal as her debating partner, good sense tells him no but his hormones cry yes, and soon Hal finds himself confronted with growing feelings for Ginny as well as the looming humiliation of having to compete in the state finals. ROCKET SCIENCE features a good cast of relative unknowns, who with the help of a solid script, convey the pangs of adolescent angst and the awkwardness of high school. The film treads familiar territory but does so well, sticking to the story and not getting too caught up in style. The film's soundtrack, which features songs from Clem Snide frontman Eef Barzelay, perfectly matches its indie pedigree.

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Impressions that I Get: Although this film didn't have the name Wes Anderson attached to it, there is no doubt that Jeffrey Blitz had the quirky indie director in the back of his mind somewhere while making Rocket Science. The film thrives on its own hipness in which the poetic narration that plays throughout the movie seems as if it were taken from a coffee house philosophy disscussion, and I don't mean that in a bad way. Even the classic themes of high school disillustionment, failed teenage love, and divorce all appear in one way or another throughout the movie. The only shortcoming that I feel Rocket Science has is that it doesn't bring a ton of new ideas to a genre that is based in creativity and uniqueness. However, this film really did capture the spirit of what it meant to be Hal Hafner thanks to a stellar acting job by Reese Thompson. The trademark stutter was not just captured in the voice, but in the scared and shy way that Hefner lived his life. The more the movie went on, the more connected I felt to the character of Hal, his sorrows became the audience's sorrows and vice versa. The other standout part of this movie to me was the fantastic score that matched acoustic instruments with frantic rhythms, yet overall added a very complete feature to the movie that matched the bizzare scenarios it often was accompanying.

While this movie may have had a few shortcomings, the script was very well written and captured the contrast between the fact spewing, million words a minute debater Ginny and poor, stumbling Hal Hefner beautifully. Regardless of who you relate to more, one cannot deny that Rocket Science made you feel a little more empathy for the little guy whom we all have seen, but never heard. -AT

Acting (9/10)

Plot (7.5/10)

Cinematography (7/10)

Originality (7/10)

My Grade: B+- (yes, that is indeed a b plus minus, that oft forgotten grade that falls between the B and the B+)