DOCUMENTARY
U.S. Release Date: 07/25/08
Running Length: 95 Minutes
MPAA Classification: PG-13 (Profanity, Sexual Situations)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Cast: Hannah Bailey, Colin Clemens, Megan Krizmanich, Jake Tusing
Director: Nanette Burstein
Screenplay: Nanette Burstein
Cinematography: Laela Kilbourn
U.S. Distributor: Paramount Vintage

Review by: Carter Moulton

12/23/08

America’s obsession with reality television is starting to spill onto the big screen. American Teen is a “Laguna Beach”-like docudrama following the stories of five students at Warsaw High School in Indiana. Director Nanette Burstein really overproduces her product by stuffing it with feel-good clichés. I’m not sure if the stories were scripted from the beginning or edited in post, but American Teen comes off as one fictionalized fake. From cameramen somehow catching scandalous moments to game-winning shots, the film pushes us away instead of drawing us in. It's crammed with clichés, such as our beloved Colin nailing a game-winning three-pointer.

Photo © Paramount Pictures

The five students fit the recognized high school stereotypes: the geek (Jake), the drama-queen (Megan), the jock (Colin), the heartthrob (Mitch), and the artsy-mcfartsy (Hannah). Jake wants to find a girl, Megan wishes to get into the University of Notre Dame and Colin wants to get a basketball scholarship. The stories themselves are realistic enough to emotionally attract, but each time I felt myself becoming close to a character I was reminded (painfully) that the material had been tweaked and altered. The coaches, principals—and even the parents—seem like imitations. Mitch isn’t explored as deeply as the other four students; there must not have been enough drama in his life to entertain us.

The most interesting subject by far is Hannah. She doesn’t fit in with the “preppy” crowd. She enjoys painting and wants to become a filmmaker. Compared to the other students, her passion is more concentrated and relevant. She wants to move to California and postpone college. Her parents obviously don’t agree, but that’s the least of her problems. When she talks about her desire to be remembered, American Teen hits one of its high points. She experiences the biggest conflict in the film (which I won’t give away), and her story inspired me in an earnest way, despite all of the sensitization. I connected most with Hannah Bailey's story.

During my high school experience I can recall certain emotions. Some of these were explored in American Teen, some were not. It would be so much more effective if it didn’t play out like a reality television show. I could’ve turned on MTV if I wanted to see that sort of exaggerated-bogus-crap. Ok, this film is better than MTV because of the subject material, but the execution really is sub par. Unnecessary animation clogs up the project, and obvious falsities (the announcers during Colin’s basketball game) give the film an artificial coat. Break through this disgusting layer and you’ll find that American Teen actually contains an insightful message.