Bart Got a Room

Last updated
Bart Got a Room
Bart got a room.jpg
Promotional film poster
Directed byBrian Hecker
Written byBrian Hecker
Produced by Plum Pictures
Starring
CinematographyHallvard Bræin
Edited byDanny Rafic
Music byJamie Lawrence
Distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment
Release dates
  • April 25, 2008 (2008-04-25)(Tribeca Film Festival)
  • April 3, 2009 (2009-04-03)(United States)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Bart Got a Room is a 2008 comedy film written and directed by Brian Hecker, and stars Steven Kaplan, Alia Shawkat, William H. Macy, and Cheryl Hines. Also appearing in the film are Ashley Benson, Brandon Hardesty, Kate Micucci, Jennifer Tilly, Dinah Manoff (in her last film role as of 2022) and Chad Jamian Williams as Bart. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 25, 2008. It had a limited US release in select theaters on April 3, 2009, and was released on DVD on July 28, 2009.

Contents

Plot

The film chronicles nerdy high school senior Danny Stein and his unsuccessful attempts to secure a prom date while his divorced father and mother are on their own unsuccessful quests to find love. The film's name comes from the fact that the most unpopular kid in school, Bart Beeber, not only secured a date for the prom but got a hotel room after as well. This is a source of great anxiety for both Danny and his family. [1]

Cast

Production

The filming took place in Hollywood, Florida. [2] The film is a semi-autobiographical story inspired by Hecker's life growing up as a nerd in South Florida.[ citation needed ] Hollywood Hills High School was used for the shooting of some scenes in the film. This movie marked the first time that Alia Shawkat, Dinah Manoff, and Michael Mantell have worked together since their appearances on the 2001-2002 TV series State of Grace .

Reception

Bart Got a Room won "Best of Fest" awards at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, the Asheville Film Festival, and the Chicago Gen Art Film Festival. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 70% of 37 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.2/10.The website's consensus reads: "Just enough sweetness and good performances lighten up the high school-set tensions, creating a family-appropriate teen comedy." [3] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 57 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. [4]

Greg Quill of the Toronto Star called the film "an affectionately nuanced comedy of manners", praising its "warm sensibility" reminiscent of Woody Allen's Radio Days , "judicious editing and superbly controlled performances", concluding that: "Bart Got A Room avoids most of the clichés of the genre, it also avoids the predictable denouement. The off-the-kilter final act is a brave, heart-warming surprise." [5] Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times felt that Hecker was ill-equipped when directing Macy and Hines, saying she felt the latter was "underused" in her role. She later wrote that he does a better job with Kaplan and Shawkat, finding the former "engaging" and doing "a good job with giving his character the naiveté and desperation of a kid hoping to change what seems to be the "loser" setting of his life." [6] Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times wrote that despite Hecker capturing "knowing images" of Florida, she criticized his "antiquated" screenplay for lacking "freshness" in its given genre and giving his cast limited "caricature" parts, concluding that Tilly's five-minute cameo reminds viewers that "comedy without risk is as barren as a prom without a theme." [7] Susan G. Cole, writing for NOW , felt that Hecker made a mistake when taking the farcical path instead of the broad route when telling his teen comedy story with "unlikeable caricatures", saying, "[T]his indie pic demonstrates that a great setting, strong cast and decent premise won't save a bad script." [8] John Semley of Exclaim! felt the film was another Napoleon Dynamite facsimile that bypasses "funniness in favour of stylized quirkiness" for its content, criticizing its thin awkward charm, "mean-spirited" and "adolescent" jokes, and portraying itself as "an ugly, ersatz colouring book version of real life." [9] Ed Gonzalez of Slant Magazine criticized Hecker's "wafer-thin story" for being a "banal, half-sketched cartoon" filled with offensive humor and teen comedy clichés, concluding that Macy's portrayal of his character's "cornily scripted eccentricity" felt believable and he escapes "largely unscathed by sheer force of will." [10]

Soundtrack

In the opening sequence, the film features the song "Sing Sing Sing", played by the Hollywood Hills High School Band at the Hollywood Beach Bandshell.

Related Research Articles

State of Grace is an American comedy-drama series that ran for two seasons on Fox Family, later ABC Family during 2001 and 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alia Shawkat</span> American actress (born 1989)

Alia Martine Shawkat is an American actress. She is known for her performances as Maeby Fünke in the Fox/Netflix television sitcom Arrested Development, Dory Sief in the TBS and HBO Max dark comedy series Search Party (2016–2022), and Gertie Michaels in the 2015 horror-comedy film The Final Girls, as well as her roles in State of Grace and The Old Man. She has also guest starred as historical figures Frances Cleveland, Virginia Hall, and Alexander Hamilton on Comedy Central's Drunk History.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William H. Macy</span> American actor (born 1950)

William Hall Macy Jr. is an American actor. His film career has been built on appearances in small, independent films, though he has also appeared in mainstream films. His major roles include Fargo (1996), Boogie Nights (1997), Air Force One (1997), Magnolia (1999), Mystery Men (1999), Jurassic Park III (2001), Cellular (2004), Bobby (2006), Everyone's Hero (2006), Wild Hogs (2007), and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024).

Dinah Manoff is an American stage, film, and television actress and television director. She is best known for her roles as Carol Weston on Empty Nest, Elaine Lefkowitz on Soap, Marty Maraschino in the film Grease, and Libby Tucker in both the stage and film adaptations of I Ought to Be in Pictures, for which she won a Tony Award.

Miguel Arteta is a Puerto Rican director of film and television, known for his independent film Chuck & Buck (2000), for which he received the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award, and for the films The Good Girl (2002) and Cedar Rapids (2011).

<i>I Ought to Be in Pictures</i> Play written by Neil Simon

I Ought to Be in Pictures is a comedy drama play written by Neil Simon, his 18th. The play opened on Broadway in 1980. It was subsequently made into a film, released in 1982. The play involves a film screenwriter who has abandoned his family, and his daughter who arrives at his home, seeking his help in becoming an actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Hardesty</span> American comedic performer and actor

Brandon Allan Hardesty is an American comedic performer and actor. Hardesty posts original comedy videos as well as "uncanny" recreations of scenes from movies, playing every part himself. The Village Voice writer Julian Dibbell has called his works "web culture at its finest."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicolas Wright</span> Canadian actor (born 1982)

Nicolas Wright is a Canadian actor. Wright has performed on stage, television and film. In 2004, he received the "most promising newcomer" award at the Just for Laughs film festival in Montreal for his short film, Toutouffe. His credits include Hatley High (2003), Superstorm (2007), The Wild Hunt (2008), Afghan Luke (2011), and Independence Day: Resurgence (2016). He was nominated for an ACTRA Montreal Award for outstanding male performance for his acting in the movie White House Down (2013).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kate Micucci</span> American actress and comedian (b. 1980)

Kate Micucci is an American actress, comedian, and musician who is half of the musical comedy duo Garfunkel and Oates with Riki Lindhome. Some of her roles include Stephanie Gooch in Scrubs, Ally in 'Til Death, Shelley in Raising Hope, Lucy in The Big Bang Theory, Sadie Miller in Steven Universe, Sara Murphy in Milo Murphy's Law, Kelly in Hamster and Gretel, Daisy in Nature Cat, Clayface in The Lego Batman Movie, Velma Dinkley in Scooby-Doo since 2015, Webby Vanderquack in DuckTales, Stacey in Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities, and Dr. Fox in Unikitty!

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garfunkel and Oates</span> American comedy-folk music duo

Garfunkel and Oates is an American comedy folk duo consisting of actresses Riki Lindhome, who performs as Garfunkel, and Kate Micucci, who performs as Oates. Their fast-paced songs typically combine raunchy observational comedy with sweet-sounding melodies and vocals. The duo was formed in 2007 in Los Angeles after Lindhome and Micucci met during an improv show at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. They began releasing songs on YouTube in 2007 and became popular through the website. Garfunkel and Oates' debut studio album, All Over Your Face, was released in 2011, while their second studio album, Slippery When Moist (2012), topped the Billboard Comedy Albums chart. They released their third studio album, Secretions, in 2015.

<i>Neil Simons I Ought to Be in Pictures</i> 1982 film by Herbert Ross

I Ought to Be in Pictures is a 1982 American comedy-drama film directed by Herbert Ross and based on Neil Simon's 1980 play of the same name. The film stars Walter Matthau, Ann-Margret, and Dinah Manoff. Other actors who have supporting roles are Lance Guest, Eugene Butler, David Faustino, Martin Ferrero and Michael Dudikoff.

<i>Cedar Rapids</i> (film) 2011 American film

Cedar Rapids is a 2011 American comedy film directed by Miguel Arteta. The script, written by Phil Johnston, was included on the 2009 Black List, a Hollywood list of the most popular unproduced screenplays of the year.

<i>The Oranges</i> (film) 2011 American film

The Oranges is a 2011 American romantic comedy-drama directed by Julian Farino and starring Hugh Laurie, Leighton Meester, Catherine Keener, Oliver Platt, Allison Janney, Alia Shawkat, and Adam Brody. The film chronicles how two families deal with a scandal involving a married man and his friend's daughter. Set in The Oranges area of Essex County, New Jersey, The Oranges was primarily filmed in New Rochelle, New York. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2011, and was released in the United States on October 5, 2012, by ATO Pictures. The film received mostly negative reviews upon its release and criticism and attacks for its ageist themes and tropes.

<i>The Brass Teapot</i> 2012 American film

The Brass Teapot is a 2012 American fantasy film directed by Ramaa Mosley. The movie's script was written by Tim Macy, who also wrote the short story on which the movie is based. The movie premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2012, and was released into theaters and video on demand on April 5, 2013.

<i>Green Room</i> (film) 2015 film by Jeremy Saulnier

Green Room is a 2015 American horror-thriller film written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier, and produced by Neil Kopp, Victor Moyers and Anish Savjani. Starring Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, Joe Cole, Callum Turner and Patrick Stewart, the film focuses on a punk band who find themselves attacked by neo-Nazi skinheads after witnessing a murder at a remote club in the Pacific Northwest. The film came from Saulnier's desire to direct a thriller set in a green room.

<i>Search Party</i> (TV series) 2016 American dark comedy series

Search Party is an American dark comedy television series created by Sarah-Violet Bliss, Charles Rogers, and Michael Showalter. Primarily set in New York City, the series follows a group of friends who become involved in the search for a missing young woman and the events that result from their involvement.

<i>The Prom</i> (musical) American Broadway musical

The Prom is a musical with music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, and a book by Bob Martin and Beguelin, based on an original concept by Jack Viertel. The musical follows four Broadway actors lamenting their days of fame, as they travel to the conservative town of Edgewater, Indiana, to help a lesbian student banned from bringing her girlfriend to high school prom.

<i>Animals</i> (2019 film) 2019 film

Animals is a 2019 comedy-drama film directed by Sophie Hyde, starring Holliday Grainger and Alia Shawkat. It was screened in the Premieres category at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. An adaptation of Emma Jane Unsworth's 2014 novel of the same name, the film follows best friends Laura and Tyler whose lifestyle comes under scrutiny just as Laura becomes engaged to a teetotaller.

<i>The Old Man</i> (TV series) Thriller television series

The Old Man is an American drama thriller television series based on the 2017 novel The Old Man by Thomas Perry. It was developed by Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine and premiered on FX on June 16, 2022. The first season consisted of seven episodes. Following its premiere, the series was renewed for a second season on June 27, 2022. The second season is set to premiere on September 12, 2024.

<i>Blink Twice</i> 2024 film by Zoë Kravitz

Blink Twice is a 2024 American psychological thriller film directed by Zoë Kravitz, in her directorial debut, from a script she co-wrote with E.T. Feigenbaum. The film stars Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Haley Joel Osment, Kyle MacLachlan, Geena Davis, and Alia Shawkat.

References

  1. Brandon Hardesty's page on the film Archived June 26, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Bart Got A Room IMDb
  3. "Bart Got a Room". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved June 3, 2022. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  4. "Bart Got a Room". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  5. Quill, Greg (May 1, 2009). "Bart Got A Room: Date with fate". Toronto Star . Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2022.Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg
  6. Sharkey, Betsy (April 3, 2009). "Review: 'Bart Got a Room'" . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2022.Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg
  7. Catsoulis, Jeannette (April 3, 2009). "Big-Band Blues" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2022.Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg
  8. Cole, Susan G. (April 15, 2009). "Bart Got A Room". NOW . Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022.Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg
  9. Semley, John (April 30, 2009). "Bart Got A Room". Exclaim! . Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  10. Gonzalez, Ed (March 29, 2009). "Review: Bart Got a Room". Slant Magazine . Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022.Star full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg