Review of Angus (1995) by Bill C — 08 Mar 2010

As a film critic, a movie does not always need to be great to have a significant impact on me as a viewer. And that's what Angus is. It's not a great film, but for mer personally it was certainly memorable, and just reminds us how cruel, yet memorable high school really was.

The release of this film came in late 1995, I was entering Grade 7, and I was horribly unpopular, and picked on constantly. I went home after 3 o clock everyday, already dreading the next. My only time of peace came on weekends. Most of which I'd spend at the movies.

The story of Angus is obviously not one I can relate too on a complete level. I certainly wasn't a "fat kid", I was probably skinnier than anybody at the time, even the girls. But Angus was an outcast, with one loyal friend, a loving mother, and a no nonsense Grandfather.

Angus Bethune is an offensive lineman for the High School football team, which is of course anchored by the extremely popular, Rick, played quite well in scummy fashion by future Dawson's Creek star, James Van Der Beek. He of course has the attention, of beautiful cheerleader Melissa, played by Ariana Richards, who had gained a measure of fame from Jurassic Park. Angus pines over her silently, and I can relate. Being unpopular, you feel the popular crowd is a territory best left untouched and unspoken.

Angus, played well by Charlie Talbert, is also quite a smart kid, especially when it comes to Science. He's stubborn, downtrodden, but he does not back down from anything. He's constantly followed by his friend Troy, a funny supporting performance from Chris Owen (later known as "The Shermanator" from the American Pie films). The friendship between the two, is played like a real friendship, Troy is that friend who thinks he knows it all, but Angus knows otherwise, and rolls his eyes, but can appreciate the efforts of help.

What I like a lot about this film is that if plays off relationships quite well. And that's the big focus here. It's Angus' relationship with his Grandfather, played by legendary Oscar winner George C. Scott, where he seeks the most wisdom. His loving Mom, who's as hardnosed as Angus, played by another Oscar winner, Kathy Bates, doesen't want her son to change. There's a really nice scene of conflict between the mother and grandfather, over what's truly best for Angus. Also his rivalry with Rick may seem protoypical for a film, but they did the best they could.

I also liked the quiet affection he had for the character of Melissa, and I like how althrough the movie, even though we barely hear her speak the entire movie, but you get the sinking feeling, that something is tearing away at her, and we get a bit of a twist on that near the end.

I earlier said the term "prototypical", and yes this movie is all that, and very paint by numbers. But yet unlike most movies like this that would folow, the filmakers did everything they could with what they had. All the characters have heart, the relationships are all different in a way, and there's a few very funny verbal exchanges, and a couple really clever lines of dialogue. My pesonal favourite is, "She's that girl, that's so far out of your reach, that you know she was put on this earth, just to make you feel bad".

Yes, we get the "big dance scene", and we get the "monologue amongst the crowd", typical indeed, however, I LOVE how it was written, and it wasn't JUST cliches, it had heart, and it was something stemming from the Angus character, it wasn't just words written for a character who has no right, and not enough smarts to realize it, like so many other films of the teen genre.

The ending actually is what I like to call "The Glimmer of Hope", not everything's wrapped up, but you're more than satisfied, and very happy for this sympathetic character.

Much like Angus, social acceptance wasn't a big deal to me, but I was sick of everyone laughing and making fun of me. I think that's why this movie struck a chord with me, and perhaps some may think I'm being to kind to it. Well to all them, to quote Grandpa Ivan in this film, "Screw 'Em".

I also love the soundtrack here, featuring The Goo Goo Dolls, slightly before there big breakout, Love Spit Love, Mazzy Star, Squeeze, Green Day, Sun 60 Weezer and Peter Gabriel.

Again, Angus is far from great, but I still love it after all these years, and it's a pleasent experience.