Hatley High

2003
1h 30m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Tommy Linklater is an eighteen-year old magician. The magic he performs is often minor - re-directing croquet balls, making cards appear in closed purses - it is always genuine; he actually ... Read allTommy Linklater is an eighteen-year old magician. The magic he performs is often minor - re-directing croquet balls, making cards appear in closed purses - it is always genuine; he actually does the impossible. He will soon learn that his hobby for playing chess while his mother ... Read allTommy Linklater is an eighteen-year old magician. The magic he performs is often minor - re-directing croquet balls, making cards appear in closed purses - it is always genuine; he actually does the impossible. He will soon learn that his hobby for playing chess while his mother was alive is another gift she left him. His father, Herman Linklater, is a physicist who b... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

472

YOUR RATING

9User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins total

Photos3

User reviews9

6.1472

Featured reviews

5SnoopyStyle

fun satire gets repetitive

In the town of North Hatley, chess mania has taken over the local high school. New student Tommy Linklater likes to do his magic tricks. He is recruited for the chess team, The Knights, due to his late mother's legendary chess skills. Hyacinthe Marquez (Rachelle Lefevre) is the head cheerleader and honor student.

This has a fun satire premise of switching the coolness factor between jocks and the chess club. It's kinda funny for a little while but it gets repetitive. The writing is not funny enough. Other than Lefevre, the cast isn't good enough. It's got one good idea but it fails to build on it.

9purple-sox-rox

Great movie.

I really loved this movie. One of the best "feel-good" movies I've seen. Loved the cheesiness, and the synth-y music used. Also how it was in Canada! I liked how there were no overly dramatic emotional scenes. This made it feel like I was on vacation. It was relaxing, and very funny. Nicholas Wright was engaging and endearing, and I especially liked the British guy Trevor and his mute "best mate" Darryl. The only thing I disliked was Hyachinth - she seemed forced and character too good to be true. I wish more people knew about this movie. There's not even a Facebook fan page for it!

Anyway - watch it. :)

10TD-11

What a great little movie

I often see teen movies and they usually provide a chuckle. Some are so awful, that they are instant eject button. Sometimes they just force me to keep my finger on the fast forward button. Hatley High was an absolutely GREAT movie. There were many depths and subtleties underneath a movie that kept my undivided interest every step along the way and provided many laughs as well. The chemistry between all the characters is great and there are several interesting relationships that develop. I would recommend this movie to anyone who is young at heart wants to see a good movie with some chuckles along the way. I am so glad that I stumbled upon it.

landon-1

It's the American football movie recast well as a chess piece ...

Staged in a small town that worships chess this movie kept me smiling all the way through. Even though it comes off as a play on the typical American "worship the football goods" type movie there are many of details that might not be apparent at first viewing. A combination of familial loss, new town acclimatization, cold war history and rook envy come together well in a movie fit for pretty much everyone.

The main character, Tommy, did a good job of coming across as a complicated young man who has the initial idea of who he is but still has the rough edges to work on. Hyacinth, well, other than everyone falling in love with her while she keeps Tommy dancing, I expect to see her again in more movies as she has a good energy that is transferred here.

This is a movie that makes me glad to be a Canadian!

10filmwiz33

What a Great Movie

I saw this at The San Diego Film Festival, and i think it was the best movie there. Everything about it was just brilliant. The acting was all top notch from everybody. I considered the movie an ensemble piece because everybody was just equally as good as the next person. The screen writing was also awesome. It was extremely Rushmore-esqu. But for me thats a good thing. After i saw the movie i met the director, and he's one of the nicest guys anyone could ever meet. I really hope this gets a U.S. release. I actually think if marketed right, this could become the next Napolian Dynamite (only this movie is much better). Now i just have to wait for their next movie(Prom Wars).