Young star shines in teen comedy ‘Charlie Bartlett’

Published 5:56 pm Thursday, February 21, 2008

Sitting through the offbeat teen comedy “Charlie Bartlett” makes you feel as if you’ve just watched three episodes of a fun new TV series.

Anton Yelchin, who’s had lead roles in “Fierce People” and “House of D” and supporting parts in “Alpha Dog” and “Hearts in Atlantis,” should become better known now. The fresh-faced young actor absolutely shines as the title character, a wealthy kid who gets booted out of an elite academy, ends up in public school and becomes instantly popular when he starts doling out psychological advice (as well as copious meds).

Sure, there’s some familiarity in the directing debut from longtime editor Jon Poll — unmistakable shades of Ferris Bueller.

Still, Yelchin has an unflagging sweetness and likability about him — even as Charlie repeatedly gets into trouble. When we first meet him, he’s being expelled from prep school for making fake IDs. His mother, played with hilarious flakiness by Hope Davis, doesn’t get angry but merely admires that the licenses look authentic. (Then again, her idea of a bonding activity is taking her son wine-tasting.)

Charlie is clearly the adult in the equation. Dad, meanwhile, isn’t around — and the exact reason is wisely withheld from us until the end.

When Charlie arrives at his new public high school in a blazer and tie and carrying an attache case, we just know he’s begging to get his butt kicked. But what’s different here is the way he turns the situation around to his benefit: He says hello to the nerds, cheerleaders and bullies alike. And he gets the biggest thug of all (hunky Tyler Hilton, showing surprising depth) on his side just by listening to him.

Soon, he’s listening to everyone’s problems and — with a little research — procuring the various prescription pills he thinks his classmates need to cope with their teen angst. He merely regurgitates their symptoms of panic, loneliness and fear while lying on his own psychiatrist’s couch, and, viola! He becomes a walking pharmacy.

This set-up, by the way, feels like the pilot. If there’s a quibble to be had with “Charlie Bartlett,” it’s that it feels too episodic.

You can easily make out the structure: There’s the one where the kids protest when the school district places cameras in the student lounge; the one where Charlie gets in trouble with the incompetent principal (Robert Downey Jr.), and the one where Charlie falls for the principal’s daughter, Susan (Kat Dennings).

And yes, maybe it’s bit obvious that he helps everyone else with their troubles to avoid facing his own. But Charlie Bartlett — and “Charlie Bartlett” — are complex and engaging enough that you want to watch him work those out, too.