Review of American Teen (2008) by Jing B — 22 Mar 2011

I have issues with this film. A lot of issues. Is it a great documentary? By no means. It doesn't really show us or touch anything new. Also, there are so many obvious staged or reshot scenes. I'm not saying that anything that happens is false, it is just that the director's hand is seen far too much.

However, all that being said, I had a profound reaction to this movie. Not totally from the content, but from a few scenes. Most contain Hannah who is essentially a real-life Juno and someone I would have done anything to have dated in high school.

I was like her in high school in some ways and like her in a lot of ways now. She is truly the beacon to focus on in this film. However, another scene starred the "bitch." It was about that pressure about being accepted to college.

I remember that all too well. Life and death hinged on a letter. The scene with her admissions letter (I won't spoil anything) is perhaps one of the most emotionally genuine things I've seen in years, and certainly the most in this film.

I feel kind of deceived by the director, however, I was deceived well. In the end, it didn't change anything I felt about high school, only confirmed it: I'm so I graduated and have nothing to do with it anymore.