Review of The Battle of Shaker Heights (2003) by Emily B — 08 Oct 2005

I wanted to watch this movie because I love Project Greenlight but I didn't think I would like it very much. For two reasons, A:It's about a teenager who goes to war reinactments B:It flopped in the theatre. Much to my suprise I liked it alot. It was very funny and I loved the story.

Kelly (Shia LaBeouf) isn't going to college, he works in a supermarket and keeps getting beat up at school. But at least he has the war reinactments on the weekends. Kelly has been living in this fantasy world because he doesn't want to face the reality at home, that his father is an ex-junkie and his mother, once an artist, has been reduced to teaching a korean family that lives in their house to paint pictures of kittens and puppies. Than he meets Bart and they begin to plan Kelly's revenge on the school bully. Along the way Kelly falls in love with Bart's beautiful older sister Tabbie (Amy Smart).

When I read what this movie was about I was like who would make a movie about that? But it really is a clever script and plot. Shia LaBeouf did an amazing job, when his nose wasn't stealling the shot. Man he has a huge nose! This is a very clever movie with a very touching message. You should definitely watch!

Favorite quotes:

Principal Holmstead: Growing up is a hard enough thing as it is.

Kelly: Is that what your box of tissues is for?

Principal Holmstead: How am I ever going to get through to you?

Kelly Ernswiler: Well, advertising executives use status and sex to appeal to my demographic.