Geek Charming
2011 · Directed by Jeffrey Hornaday
Original language: English
- comedy
- drama
- romance
- family
- tv movie
The story
Film geek Josh is looking for the subject of his new documentary when a chance meeting puts the perfect star in his sights—Dylan, his school's most popular junior. But Dylan's hopes of using the film to become Blossom Queen don't quite match with Josh's goal to make a hard-hitting exposé about popularity. Will Josh shoot the film as planned, or show Dylan as the truly interesting person she is?
What it’s like
Bright, saturated high-school daylight and tidy suburban interiors, with the handheld, mock-documentary framing of a teen film student's camcorder cutting in and out of the main story. Sunny yards, lockers, pastel prom-season décor and fluorescent school corridors give it a glossy, candy-coloured look, while the frequent cuts to talking-head "interview" shots add a loose, jittery energy. The score is bouncy pop-rock and light acoustic pieces, and the rhythm is quick and chatty, with plenty of banter and few quiet beats. The vibe is breezy, sweet and mildly self-aware, the sort of comfort watch for a lazy weekend afternoon or a light evening with snacks. Its emotional register stays warm and playful: a sharp, image-obsessed girl and a sincere, awkward boy each learn that the story they want to tell about someone may not be the story that person wants to live. Intensity is very low: teasing, some mild social cruelty and brief romantic tension, with no violence, gore or sexual content. It suits viewers who want a gentle, funny teen romance with a film-school twist and a hint of conscience.
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