Screened Out: The Spectacular Now

[four-star-rating]Miles Teller, Shailene, Woodley, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Jason Lee[/four-star-rating]

The Spectacular Now presented a new approach to teen-in-trouble films.

Most flicks about youth with serious problems, alcoholism, drug addiction, pregnancy, or depression, are heavy on the message. They also follow a pretty standard path, complete with finger pointing and a vital message, usually delivered by the protagonist in an overwrought monologue or voice-over.

Remember when ABC used to air their After-School Specials? That’s why we can map out each of these cautionary tales from beginning to end; the sad thing is that the plot hasn’t really changed much in thirty years.

Besides the voice-over by the trouble teen (why do they still use this?), this film decides to shake things up a bit; there is no overt preaching in The Spectacular Now. It presents a lackadaisical, spare tale about a teenager on the path to becoming a serious souse.

Young Miles Teller is an alcoholic, no doubt about that. He’s a particularly happy drunk who embraces the moment, loaded with bravado, somewhat handsome, very charming, fun, encouraging and completely without direction or purpose. The fact that he’s in his last year of high school with no plans is not surprising. When his long-term girlfriend realizes Teller has a problem, she dumps him. The young man rebounds with shy, brainy, impressionable Woodley, leading her down a path he knows all too well.

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The focus, like in all good teen films, is on the young’uns. Though Jennifer Jason Lee and Kyle Chandler give wonderful performances as Teller’s parents, they never pull focus from Teller or Woodley. The scenes with Chandler, in particular, are heartbreakingly stark, quiet and shocking.

There are no lectures, no big “a-ha moments,” just a bunch of small, measured realizations. The acting is subtle. The pace is decidedly unhurried; the story is spare. That’s a plus, sure. It’s also a detriment, because much of the film, except for a couple truly brilliant moments – feels longer, with little deep revelation or interesting camera work.

What this film has working for it are the young actors in the two leads. Teller and Woodley have to carry most of this flick, engaging the audience by sheer talent alone. It’s a good thing this couple’s got it, plus some honest chemistry between each other. We’ve already seen them do phenomenal work – Woodley in The Descendants, and Teller in The Rabbit Hole.

In The Spectacular Now, they combine powers to save this quiet film with a preachy subject from a life totally wasted.