The Exploding Boy

I guess you need to consider the fact that this is an indie movie when rating it. Cause the directing and the acting is so high school project like. Like everything could use some improvements. That being said, the story itself isn't bad. In the right hands, this movie can indeed be funnier and wittier. It's a classic coming of age tale for awkward teenagers with problems at home. Just add gayness to the formula, voila! There's nothing new that can be called memorable, though. Boy meets boy, boys falling for each other, boys with hormones running amok. That kind of stuff. There's no sex scenes, though. In case you're wondering.

A great coming of story where the main character finds himself, comes out of his shell, and learns to trust another eventually while improving the lot of others around him. It is gratifying to see how a youth who is pain of growth can help those around him such as his mother find growth as well. A study of how people cover feelings try not to show them by feigning disinterest. Oh to be a teen again. Great to have a supportive mom, the dad, well that is another story. The counselor is a surprising and nice twist to the story. A twist from the past, currently, and a force in the future. A great story how one person finding themselves can have so many positive changes on others including themselves. A fun and happy movie as well moments to enrage with some characters.

As writer, producer, co-director, and editor (also visual effects, props, costumes, you name it), I think of this film as my child. It can do no wrong. But just like a real child, it has problems - and the parents are definitely to blame.

The film suffers from audio issues. That's front and center. It's filmmaking 101 and it's harped on over and over - get good audio on-set. But we had some issues and ended up with poor dialogue audio in multiple places. I've heard worse (in blockbuster films, no less) but it still gets points taken away. On the plus, the sound design of the ambient sound and sound effects can be fun to listen to. There's a whole story in the audio alone.

It doesn't have a great look. It's true - it lacks that cinematic quality. We are terrible at lighting a set - and we were doing things at breakneck speeds. But I watched a doc years ago that said "if you have a story, don't worry about your camera or the look of the movie, just get it on camera." And I've taken that to heart. It's DIY. It's punk rock.

The story is simple, sweet, hopeful, and fun. And that's exactly what we set out to create. It's not complicated. It's not mind-blowing. It's a simple story about people changing their lives for the better.

The actors are lovely and fun (and were always game for whatever we threw at them). They're the real draw of this film - their believability, their relatability, their chemistry, their charms.

All in all, The Exploding Boy is a tender and funny romp that merely exists to bring a little light and happiness into the world. It's a movie about improving oneself, it's a movie about love and friendship, and it's a movie about kindness. I think everyone should check it out.