Delco: The Movie

Overall I enjoyed this film. It didn't need to be flashy, didn't need current events/songs shoved down its throat, it's just a movie with three teenagers in a county that people love to hate, but feels emptiness when they leave. The actors played their roles very well, and we also see the main three develop as they continue doing their nonsense. If you lived/currently live in Delco, you gotta see this at least once. For as quickly as this movie was made and with a very tight budget, it was very good and definitely had moments where I went "I know where that place is". It was meant to have people from multiple parts of the county to come together and enjoy this and it did just that and then some.

Went in with low expectations knowing it was a crowd funded, low budget movie and got what I expected. It played as what someone would submit for a class project. Not enough Delco stereo types. It only focused on the Aston section, no aerial shots of row homes, it made Delco look nice. Could have been funnier and a little disappointed in the casting. The female lead looked 32 playing an 18yr old. Funny that both male leads were THAT religious and went to public school. I didn't know any public school kids that much into their faith so to have the movie centered around two felt off. Not the worst was just hoping for better.

Got to see this at the 4th Annual Smodcastle Film Festival, and what a great film. The story is simple (home schooled kid living in Delco is now going to public school with his friend, hijinks ensue), but it's all just an excuse to show off both the town of Delco, PA, and the talents of the cast. Who are all great. Has a "4:30 Movie" vibe, but this film still has its own voice.

Looking forward to taking more journeys with these characters.

I saw the movie at the premiere and again at the latest showing and it is entertaining and nostalgic! I think even if you're not from Delco you can relate to the angst of that time of life growing up and feeling like there has to be more out in the world for you. A young man with a life path laid out for him by family finds solace and adventure with friends in his home town.

The acting was well done! It was a treat to see Dunkleman doing his thing as the not so supportive dad. As a comedic actor he plays a character many can remember from their own town when growing up.

The trio of Harding, Pfeiffer and Kuerzi were relatable as three teens looking for adventure in small town America! Oh how I remember doing some things I wouldn't usually attempt if it weren't for that one friend!

The backdrop of all the places I went to years ago and the places that hold special memories was an extra bonus!! Many of the laughs came from the nostalgia of things that happened at that time and the places that no longer exist.

It's a feel good movie with laughs and provoking memories we can all relate to no matter where you are from. Well done!

I got on board with this movie back when the crowdfunding started, and have followed it all the way through til the premiere. Why? Because nobody frickin talks about Delco, and this movie is. It manages to piece together a genuine picture of what life was like as a teenager growing up in Delco - one defined by isolation, grittiness, and self-loathing. I grew up here, in fact, and took the very first opportunity I had to get out and never come back.

I went into this movie as somebody who hated this county, and oddly enough, by the end, I felt a new sympathy for Delco, largely because this movie asks the simple question, "why does everyone from Delco hate on it so much?"

I thought that it struck a careful balance between portraying Delco as a living stereotype and portraying Delco as a believable place that people live. The story is simple, well-rounded, and every plot thread that begins has an end somewhere - which is way more than I can say for movies that even A24 is releasing these days. Character development is easy to grasp, and religious themes are largely cursory; the conclusion of the story makes it clear that the lead character has to reach a new, less fundamentalist understanding of faith.

Scenes tend to run on in parts, but I liked that a lot of the ancillary characters were given enough airtime to actually have a real personality; it felt truer to most high school romp films that way.

All in all, I think this is a pretty good film. Delco is a character in the story, not the joke of it, and I think that's a meaningful distinction. It means that people outside of Delco will understand and be able to access the movie, but if you're from here or connected to here, you're guaranteed to have a real emotional connection. See it if you can.