Bart Got a Room
Bart got a room -- a hotel room -- and he's booked it for senior prom night. Though the title character of Bart Got a Room only appears in one brief scene towards the end of the film, it's his uber-geek specter that hangs over writer-director Brian Hecker's comedy, a semi-autobiographical ode to teenage angst. The plot is centered on the hopelessly dateless Danny (Steven Kaplan), a gawky band nerd who must decide between taking his best friend, Camille (Alia Shawkat), to the prom, and attempting to woo the date of his dreams, a pretty blonde cheerleader. Along the way he endures derision and peer pressure from friends, as well as uncomfortably frank advice from his divorced parents, played by Cheryl Hines and William H. Macy. Set in the geriatric environs of terminally sunny south Florida, Danny's world offers constant reminders of the road he's headed down should he not solidify this one life-defining event: Macy's Ernie grapples with loneliness by seeking women in chat rooms, while Hines's Beth sees relationships as a shortcut to financial security. more..
Director: Brian Hecker
Starring: Steven Kaplan, Alia Shawkat,William H. Macy,Cheryl Hines, Brandon Hardesty
Gut-bustingly funny.
A light, funny coming-of-ager set in the endearingly un-hip retirement community of Hollywood, Fla.
Hecker makes good use of the south Florida locations, and the song selection -- including many Big Band favorites -- is winning.
The mysterious Bart and the mythology of the senior prom as the defining moment in the life of a teenager are the unseen specters hovering over the slight comedy Bart Got a Room.
The movie imprisons its talented cast (including Alia Shawkat as Danny's overlooked soul mate and Brandon Hardesty as his worldly best friend) in roles that leave little room for anything but caricature.
Brian Hecker
Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival (2008)
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