Review of That's What I Am (2011) by Tanya S — 26 May 2011

In the spirit of "The Wonder Years" comes the coming of age film "That's What I Am". If this film is a kid's movie, it's quite good. If it's a film for the general public: it's quite average.

The casting is quite odd, because while there are great performances from Ed Harris and child actor Daniel Yelsky, there is also very bad soap opera like bad acting from many of the other actors. In particular Randy Orton, who really looks and sounds out of place.

What I did enjoy about the film is how honest it was that middle school is very truthfully the time when we become who we are going to be when we grow up. As one of the geeks in Middle School it really hits home, but in a good way, because I think a lot of people can watch this and see the truth that the characters portayed in this film like "Big G' are transformed into the good people based on how they were treated when they were around that age, and by contrast so people can be made into monsters.

"That's What I Am" is a film that really makes you think, and I remember reading an interview from Randy Orton where he stated "I was picked on a lot as a kid, I was chubby and had acne, I look back now and laugh.

I mean look at me." It's pretty clear why Orton chose to be in this movie as the script I'm sure hit home with him as well. As the audience of this movie I had a similar thought process through my head.

That I was a geek/loser/outcast as well. Now it's kind of hard to tell. I don't think I'm good looking, but I do have an amazing gorgeous girlfriend, and most of the people that picked on me in middle school are all fat rednecks now and girls who have 2-3 kids from 2-3 different guys.

It really puts things in prospective, and "That's What I Am" conveysthat in a story to a young audience, and I do reccomend it, as it also is a film that is far from boring and enjoyable all the way through.