Rocket Science

Well, my list of '07 Best Of Flicks keeps growing. I'd read about this movie quite some time ago, but it never came to town. It is now out on DVD and I got the chance to see it tonight.

If you are a fan of films that have a quirky edge to them, you will definitely want to check out Rocket Science. The utterly adorable and fabulous Reece Thompson plays Hal Hefner, a high school student who is shy and stutters. He is very much lost in the world and is taken aback when the head of the debate team approaches him to join the team. She tells him that she can just sense that he would be great.

Hal is overwhelmed by the attention, more so since it's coming from a girl he finds cute. Hal does his best to impress her not only in respect to the debate team, but also to impress her as a guy. Reece makes Hal sweet, but not sugary. He has very expressive eyes that come just short of entering the puppy dog stage. It is very easy to connect with Hal and you feel for him throughout the whole picture. The actress who plays Ginny deserves big props for handling her dialogue. The speed with which she talks is just crazy, but you understand everything and it seems a natural rather than a forced sort of character trait. Plus, she's pretty witty.

I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that there is not the traditional sort of neat wrap up at the end film. The end satisfies, but it is not stereotypical. There are plenty of funny and odd moments through out thanks to a unique group of characters that surround Hal. His brother and Ginny, head of the debate team are two standouts, but everyone has something to do in this movie. The soundtrack is done mostly by Clem Snide I believe and fits the tone of the movie. There is also a great bit involving a couple working through marital issues via music therapy. This therapy finds them playing Violent Femmes on cello and piano. The first time you hear the song you pause and try and finish it so you can figure out what it is. Also, the Femmes turn up again using my favorite tune from them in a funny scene during which Hal is dealing with his love fueled angst.

While not the same as Little Miss Sunshine, I don't think it's a stretch to say that Rocket Science comes from the same corner of the heart. Check it out and enjoy a performance from an actor who could easily become the next John Cusack.