Review of Bart Got a Room (2008) by Scott S — 13 Oct 2010

The four words in this title strike universal fear in the hearts of all the players: in the quest for Prom Night glory, the school's stand-out dweeb, Bart, somehow managed to secure a hotel room on that all-important night for he and his date.

This is serious, and our hero, Danny, needs to act fast. Should he ask the sophomore cheerleader he chauffeurs around? The quiet girl in one of his classes? His best friend of 10 years with the pushy mom? Or should he leave his father, played masterfully by an afro-sporting William H.

Macy, to find him a date (the man has experience, what with the recent divorce and the ability to have a different woman in most of his scenes with him)? At 80 minutes, this doesn't leave much time for strict plot development (or even closure, for that matter) but then again, this is a movie very comfortable with doing its own thing.

It's quirky without being too quirky (the opening credits are brilliant) and it is frighteningly accurate at times (one girl's "rules for dating" were probably very easy for anyone to go on a date during their high school career to identify).

But while some scenes shine (those with Macy, particularly the "testing" of the walls in his new house), a modest amount crash (Danny's friends are weak and his mother's new love interest is dull).

By the time the titular Bart shows up, however, it doesn't matter - this is above average fun that will unfortunately fly under most people's radars.