Review of Terri (2011) by Andrew C — 15 Jun 2012

Terri seems like a film that's playing the gimmick of a indie "coming-of-age" film. The biggest issue with these types of movies is that it tends to think it's more insightful than it actually is.

Terri, strangely, is actually opposite. The film makes a point that no one and nothing, including this film, hold the secrets to young adolescence life. There's certainly a fine point to make but Terri goes a little far with its purposeful meandering that just feels slow and pointless at times.

Yet, there's a very heartwarming sincerity throughout this movie and gradually, as it develops, all the gimmicks and tropes just melt away as we just see a troubled teenager try to survive his life.

Both Wysocki and Reilly are pretty fantastic in their roles and Reilly certain transcends his character as a normal goofy and strict but corny principle into a person who is as troubled with his life as the students he disciplines.

As stated, Terri's only major flaw is that it meanders too much and sometimes the script brings up weird and messed-up moments only to drop them and never revisit them. Yet, DeWitt and Jacobs' dialogue is absolutely superb and some of the movie's best moments is when Wysocki and Reilly are alone together trying to find each other.