Movie Review

Mean Creek

Anyone who says it's easy being young doesn't know half of it. In Jacob Aaron Estes' Mean Creek, we are treated to another take on the teenage morality drama known as acceptance. We all want to be noticed, but never realize how what we say or do has an effect on other people. It's not a new idea, but Estes' provocative script and the performances by a very talented cast lift this to a very fine, and at times even scary teen drama.

Rory Culkin stars as Sammy, an average kid who is constantly picked on by a fat kid named George (Josh Peck). Sam is powerless in defense against George, and none of the other teachers are doing anything to stop the attacks. The only place he has to turn is to his older brother Rocky (Trevor Morgan), who knows (or thinks he knows) what kind of kid George is. Sammy, Rocky, and Rocky's two buddies, Marti (Scott Mechlowicz) and Clyde (Ryan Kelly), devise a plan to take George on a boat trip, strip him naked, and throw him in the river.

Only it is on this trip that the troubles of all the boys come into focus. We learn of George's learning disability, which suddenly makes them sympathetic to this lonely kid just out for a friend. We learn of Marti dealing with the tragic death of his father and Clyde having two gay fathers. They all seem to share a common ground, until sore spots are used against them.

Mean Creek really flourishes when it comes to the performances of its young cast. Rory Culkin, Scott Mechlowicz, Trevor Morgan, Josh Peck and Ryan Kelly all show emotionally fragile kids who mask themselves in an array of toughness and mean spirited jokes. One of the most compelling aspects of Estes' script are the jokes themselves, with one joke seeming like good natured fun in one minute and another seeming like a personal attack. The line of decency that exists between teenage boys is put on display here, and if that line is crossed, can we expect them to handle it in the right way?

Much like Larry Clark's "Bully,? ?Mean Creak? showcases a tragic event brought on by youth bullying. Although the event is usually conventional with this kind of story, I was glad that everything following the event was handled realistically. This movie takes a much wider look at the devastation and the immorality of the crime, and as the final credits roll, it leaves us with something to think about.

Craig's Grade: B

A	10.9%
B	41.8%
C	31.8%
D	15.3%
F	0.3%