Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Live from New York .... It's..... Harold?, September 24, 2008
This indie movie runs like an extended skit from Saturday Night Live, and no wonder - it's directed by T. Sean Shannon (a former SNL writer) and features Chris Parnell, Rachel Dratch and Colin Quinn. Other familiar names are main characters Spencer Breslin (big bro of Little Miss Sunshine's Abigail); Cuba Gooding Jnr. (in a seriously messed up `fro and a role he's probably already taken off his resume); Ally Sheedy (who nearly has a "Short Circuit" playing a "Maid to Order" role) and Nikki Blonsky (minus the hairspray)
Short Attention Span Summary (SASS):
1. Harold (Breslin) has a serious problem, or maybe two or three, perhaps even four
2. He's a newbie in a new town, and has to navigate the deadly minefield of High School
3. He suffers from male pattern baldness, and he's just on the brink of his fourteenth birthday
4. He behaves, dresses, walks, talks and gripes like a geezer
5. Everybody from liquor store owners to randy old ladies to strippers think he's an adult.
6. You can see where we're going with this
7. Big-mouthed, big-hearted, sneaky and insubordinate janitor Cromer (Gooding) takes him under his wing, and together they try to clean up Harold's act (or at least plot defense and revenge strategies)
8. Typical h0rny high school comedy storyline (complete with cool kids, bullies and nerds) provides back-up for underlying moral and ethical issues
9. You're not watching this for moral and ethical issues, so watch it for the nerd revenge scenes
10. Reasonably intelligent comedy manages to get laughs without getting overly gross or explicit. (Even with strippers and randy old ladies)
This movie has a simple story line and a cast of easily identifiable actors, but the real draw is Breslin in the title role. I'd recommend it for ages 14 and up.
Rated: 3.5 stars
Amanda Richards, September 24, 2008
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Indie Film Full of Charm, September 12, 2008
Most would agree that high school is a hellish experience that one does their best to survive. Anything that makes you stand out from the crowd can leave you open to ridicule and physical and mental torment from others. In the pleasant, independent film Harold, our titular protagonist (Breslin) is faced with a particularly challenging problem: he's a 13-year-old suffering from male-pattern baldness.
Spencer Breslin does a good job playing the sarcastic Harold who eventually learns to live with his affliction. It's hard to believe that this is the same kid who starred in forgettable cinematic dreck like Disney's The Kid, Santa Clause 2 (Widescreen Edition), and Dr. Seuss' The Cat In The Hat (Widescreen Edition). In Harold, Breslin demonstrates an aptitude for comedy, delivering his clever quips with the right amount of weary cynicism and a touch of optimism that makes us root for him to succeed.
Harold answers the question, what do the lesser known Saturday Night Live alumni do in their spare time? Rachel Dratch, Chris Parnell and Colin Quinn have small parts as characters that play a role in Harold's life. This is due in large part to director T. Sean Shannon, who got his start as a writer for Saturday Night Live. Obviously, he cashed in a few favours for this film. Harold has a gentle sense of humour that is refreshing because it is never mean-spirited and doesn't resort to nasty gross-out humour. And that, in this day and age, is becoming increasing rare.
"Red Carpet Premiere" features the cast and crew on the red carpet answering questions about the film.
Also included is a trailer.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Harold is such a funny teenage comedy, September 12, 2008
This is an excellent teenage comedy. Director T. Sean Shannon captures teenage life from both genders. He understands the pressure they face from their peers so well. Spencer Breslin stars in the title role. He is the new kid in school who suffers from male pattern baldness. Harold is teased because of his baldness. Yet, he is a likeable person who manages to make allies. Nikki Blonsky does good supporting work as one of Harold's friends. Stella Maeve is superbly cast as Harold's older sister. Cuba Gooding Jr is perfectly cast as a janitor who befriends Harold. I love Harold's oversexed elderly neighbor Maude in the movie. She is so funny here. This is such an entertaining movie. I really enjoyed it.
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