Customer Reviews

Raising Genius

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Justin Long (Jeepers Creepers, Dodgeball) delivers a particularly funny performance as an 18 year old socially dysfunctional genius who locks himself in the bathroom for two months to work out mathematical formulas on the shower walls. The script is very clever and the cast excellent, particularly Wendie Malick (Just Shoot Me) as his social-climbing (and equally dysfuncitional) mother, but Justin Long steals the show. Also starring Ed Begley Jr., Tippi Hedren, and Shirley Jones.

What can you say about a film involving a young man who will not leave the bathroom?
Hilarious and, at times, poignant seems to sum it up.
Excellent cast with Stephen Root as the beleagured dad who just wants to get through each day and Justin Long as the son who just wants to be left alone. Dysfunctional family - you bet - but one that keeps you interested.
It would appear as if Long has watched Office Space more than once in order to adapt Root's character from that film, into his own version of Milton for Raising Genuis.
A great film? No, but one that should be in any film lovers library anyway.

This is really funny and good for family viewing. Only one scene deserves parental guidance for young viewers. The cast is ideal I think. Danica McKellar does not do much but is very effective doing her part. The plot is simple but very good.

Unlike most American comedies, this movie relies more on dry humor than slapstick for its humor. It really is a parody of many high school teens about to graduate from high school; about to leave the comfort of the 'womb' of the school for the real world. In this movie, Justin seeks the security of a bathroom to keep from having to cope with the outside world. I would also say that it has elements of the reputed social ineptness of extremely bright people. Most everyone knows some so-called bright person who tries to escape from social life by using the 'importance' of their intellectual persuits.

In a way, this movie is better for adults than for teens because from the vantage point of several years one can see just how unprepared they were as fresh-faced high school graduates, so they can view this movie from that perspective. It is far from a great movie, but it is adequate for adult's vicarious re-enjoyment (if you would call it that!) of those uncertain days.