Almost Friends

I enjoyed this movie. I'm not a huge fan of Freddie Highmore or anything but I did enjoy him in the Good Doctor and this looked like the introspective, thoughtful kind of movie that I sometimes enjoy so I gave it a watch. Freddie plays the odd bird character quite well and this was no exception - though I did feel at times like he brought just a slight touch of the Good Doctor's autism to this character. But it worked well enough - especially in the scenes with Odeya Rush. She really... I don't know, they both seemed to bring something out in each other. I thought they worked well together - so much so that I found myself glad when it got to the next scene between the two of them. Anyway, if you're looking for an awkward but sweet almost love story, give this a watch. And ignore all the negativity, it was well worth it.

Charlie (Freddie Highmore) was a promising amateur chef but after an incident, he has withdrawn into a static life. He lives at home with his mother (Marg Helgenberger) and her family. His loser father (Christopher Meloni) arrives in town and comes to stay with them. Charlie's friend Ben (Haley Joel Osment) pushes him to talk to his crush coffee shop girl Amber (Odeya Rush). The problem is that she already has track star boyfriend Brad. Charlie gets her slacker cousin Jack a job at the revival theater. Jack takes a liking to Charlie's lifelong friend Heather.

Highmore and Rush are an appealing pretty young coupling. They make for a fine lead in a standard indie romance. There are a few too many issues and too many characters. Filmmaker Jake Goldberger has overstuffed this when he should concentrate on the two young stars. First with Osment, I assumed that his role would be more integral. Quite frankly, his role and Heather should be combined. Also, it needs to cut some of the extras. I don't know what is that Amber's girlfriend's name but her only contribution is listening to Amber in the bathroom. Her character should be incorporated into Jack. Have Rita Volk play Amber's cousin. As for Charlie's dad, it's another addition that pulls focus away from the Charlie Amber relationship. I would love that quirkiness except he does something totally stupid to steal climatic time. I rather have them be a quirky married couple and leave the rest out. They have these two terrific young actors and should make them the sole focus.

Solid rom-com that was kind of predicable but had some sparks for what I would call a teen film. This film will have you rooting for the underdog.

Basically If you liked Freddie Highmore you'll like this movie. If you don't you won't like it. A lot of people are talking about how the plot was was badly written and the acting was emotionless and the scrip was bland. I have to say I do mostly agree. It was a strange movie, I wont lie. But it was in a way kind of heart warming, in it's own way...

Basically this is a movie you have to shut off all previous judgements and dive in, it's going to surprise you. You'll be able to enjoy it if you don't pick everything that's wrong or weird about it because there's a lot.

I'd like to see a followup to this sobering charmful character story. I think what makes the main character endearing is his propensity for honesty. He shows a child like willingness to put him self out there and reach out for the person, who will be the one to bring out a desire to ask more of himself. She reminds him that he's worthy of the pursuit of asking more of himself. He learns that to have the one he wants, he has to do himself a favor and become the person he wants to be. Until he does, the one cares about the most won't be able to pursue him wholeheartedly. I hope to see a sequel that will show his career unfolding and hopefully a further developing romance.