ComedyDramaRomance

Charlie Bartlett

- Popularity is a state of mind.

Awkward teenager Charlie Bartlett has trouble fitting in at a new high school. Charlie needs some friends fast, and decides that the best way to find them is to appoint himself the resident psychiatrist. He becomes one of the most popular guys in school by doling out advice and, occasionally, medication, to the student body.

Release Date : 2008-02-22

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Sidney Kimmel EntertainmentEveryman PicturesPermut Presentations

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Charlie Bartlett

Original Name : Anton Yelchin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nathan Gardner

Original Name : Robert Downey Jr.

Gender : Male

Character Name : Marilyn Bartlett

Original Name : Hope Davis

Gender : Female

Character Name : Susan Gardner

Original Name : Kat Dennings

Gender : Female

Character Name : Murphy Bivens

Original Name : Tyler Hilton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kip Crombwell

Original Name : Mark Rendall

Gender : Male

Character Name : Len Arbuckle

Original Name : Dylan Taylor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Whitney Drummond

Original Name : Megan Park

Gender : Female

Character Name : Jordan Sunder

Original Name : Jonathan Malen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Stan Weathers

Original Name : Stephen Young

Gender : Male

Character Name : Henry Freemont

Original Name : Ishan Davé

Gender : Male

Character Name : Officer Hansen

Original Name : Dave Brown

Gender : Male

Character Name : Thomas

Original Name : Eric Fink

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dean West

Original Name : Noam Jenkins

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kelly

Original Name : Lauren Collins

Gender : Female

Character Name : Daisy

Original Name : Annick Obonsawin

Gender : Female

Character Name : Priscilla

Original Name : Sarah Gadon

Gender : Female

Character Name : A/V Jones

Original Name : Drake

Gender : Male

Character Name : Scott

Original Name : Michael D'Ascenzo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bus Driver

Original Name : Dwayne McLean

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Albertson

Original Name : Quancetia Hamilton

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr. Sam Costell

Original Name : Richard Alan Campbell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Linda Jenkins

Original Name : Kim Roberts

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr. Jacob Kaufmann

Original Name : David Fraser

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. P. Sarossy

Original Name : Marvin Karon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cheerleader #1

Original Name : Abigail Bernardez

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cheerleader #2

Original Name : Laura Jeanes

Gender : Female

Character Name : Cheerleader #3

Original Name : Annamaria Janice McAndrew

Gender : Male

Character Name : Len's Girlfriend #1

Original Name : Amelia Tenttave

Gender : Male

Character Name : Len's Girlfriend #2

Original Name : Annabelle Singson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Receptionist

Original Name : Julia Cohen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kip's Mom

Original Name : Abby Zotz

Gender : Male

Character Name : Spiral Beach Band Member

Original Name : Maddy Wilde

Gender : Male

Character Name : Spiral Beach Band Member

Original Name : Dorian Wolf

Gender : Male

Character Name : Spiral Beach Band Member

Original Name : Airick Woodhead

Gender : Male

Character Name : Spiral Beach Band Member

Original Name : Daniel Woodhead

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dustin Lauderbach

Original Name : Jake Epstein

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dorm Head

Original Name : Brendan Murray

Gender : Male

Character Name : Superintendent Sedgwick

Original Name : Derek McGrath

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2025-02-19

“Charlie” (Anton Yelchin) is the neglected rich kid who’s been thrown out of school so often that his mum (Hope Davis) resorts to him going to an ordinary school. Arriving in their stretched (and rather classy looking) old Mercedes bedecked in blazer and attaché case, he is quickly the plaything of school hard case “Bivens” (Tyler Hilton) only to be rescued by the principal “Gardner” (Robert Downey Jr.). Now spoilt he may be, but “Charlie” is no fool and after a few sessions with his own shrink, and the appreciation of just how empowering a little medication can be, he does a deal with his nemesis to go into business offering counselling services to his fellow pupils. One thing leads to another and his increasing awareness of their problems is used vicariously with his own doctor to procure not just medication but also treatments! Before we know it, he’s flavour of the month and even “Susan” (Kat Dennings) whose dad runs the place is becoming fond of him. Perhaps, though, he bites off a little more than he can chew when he starts to chat with the depressive “Kip” (Mark Rendall) and that leads to dangerous territory for all leaving “Charlie” having to rethink his priorities. Perhaps a new scheme might give him, and his schoolmates, a less toxic purpose? Yelchin just oozes charisma here as someone whom we ought to dislike becomes someone we actually quite like. Sure, he’s got no dad; his mum hasn’t really a clue and money is no object for him so we expect him to be a bit of a pratt, but you always feel that he just needs a stronger hand on his tiller - and who better than Downey Jr. whose character is not without some baggage of it’s own. The script is really quite fun at times and even when the romantic genes do kick in, it still manages to stay on the right side of sentimental as the engaging Yelchin delivers a characterfully mischievous performance that has just a little bit of the home truths to it, too. It’s tough to radically reinvent these teenage angsty style dramas, but this one emphasises more the characters and provides us with a decent story with less reliance on a soundtrack of AOR or power ballads. Downey Jr. does enough, and the others gel well to create something readily watchable and indicting of the whole pill-popping culture.