Review of Dare (2013) by Marcus N — 10 Nov 2009

There is an accepted lie that is told by Hollywood teen films: That everyone falls into types. The Geeky guy, the Jock, the hanger on, the bookish girl, the slutty girl, etc. as reliable as the characters tropes in a WWII men on a mission film. You know what you are getting, and everyone fulfills their roles in the formula. And its a winning formula every time From "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", to "The Breakfast Club", even lesser fare like "Bring it On" make this work. And its a fun fantasy.

DARE exists in the Twilight Zone of those films. We start in the very familiar teen film world Soccer Star; Stage Crew nerd; Star Student, and act by act, character by character deconstruct it all until we are left with three very real and very vulnerable teens who are in over their heads. It doesn't matter if you were like the one of the characters (and chances are you were) someone you know was.

Emmy Rossum shrugs off her Hollywood training and digs deep for all that is good and ugly about her character Alexa. No one who sees her here will forget her transformation from blushing wall flower to would be seductress. Nor will they forget her face in the final scene when she realizes she isn't really either of those things.

Ashley Springer takes a difficult role and humanizes it - taking the "gay best friend" out of the glib pigeon hole that Sex and the City put him in, and makes him real. He will make you wonder about Ducky.

Zach Gilford as the Jock will surprise anyone who hasn't been watching Friday Night Lights. He turns in an eye opening performance and by the end you will be feeling every last moment with him. I saw this film at Sundance and the crowd there fell for him. Will make you wonder about Emilio Estevez, or maybe your self a little.

When DARE ends, the teen genre is on its head and all the better for it. Go see this film. If you were ever a teenager this movie will thrill you.

Its a first feature for Director Adam Salky and writer David Brind. Its a stunning debut. Go see this small film in theaters this weekend so that we have the chance to see what they will do next.

We all know the indie film world is falling apart - one way to reverse that is going to see films in theaters (where they belong). Besides watching DARE at home would miss the point. You are going to want to discuss it once you have seen it. Take friends, or the very least make sure you have the numbers of your high school friends with you. This movie is going make you want to talk to them.