Review of That's What I Am (2011) by Tom R — 05 Jan 2012
(3 Stars) That's What I Am is probably one of the better films that WWE Films has made. They're trying to show their audience that they're more than a company that makes average action movies, especially by casting the great Ed Harris.
The film is a coming to age tale in the vein of A Christmas Story or The Wonder Years, but there seems to be two different movies with two different tones. One involves a junior high student Andy Nichol (Chase Ellison) misadventures; he's paired with an outcast, he discovers he likes girls, he gets bullied, and other funny things about growing up as his adult self narrates the voiceover.
.. again, very reminiscent of The Wonder Years. The other story involves a rumor about Mr. Simon (Ed Harris), which is much darker and clashes with Nichol's story. In fact, when we see Simon's story, the voiceover mysteriously vanishes.
The rumor backstory is put on the backburner, even though it seems like the more interesting of the two and by the end, it seems unresolved. This movie is odd and I'm not sure what tone they are going for.
.. is it quirky comedy or stark drama? WWE wrestler Randy Orton is in it for I think two scenes. I will say this: he plays a convincing "guy who threatens people." So even though there are many bizarre elements to That's What I Am, it's message of tolerance is mostly sound and I'm giving the studio points for trying something new.
This review of That's What I Am (2011) was written by Tom R on 05 Jan 2012.
That's What I Am has generally received positive reviews.
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