'Terri'

'Terri'  (R)  (3 1/2 stars)

Writer: Patrick Dewitt
Director: Azazel Jacobs
Starring: Jacob Wysocki, John C. Reilly, Olivia Crocicchio, Bridger Zadina, Creed Bratton

"Terri" is that rare movie about teenagers and high school that comes along once in awhile. It is not sunny or phony but instead captures the darkness  and uncertainty of growing up as a teenager. It has very funny moments but it does not hold back in showing the serious side of being an outsider in high school. It is a thoughtfully written movie that has wonderful and natural performances and characters we care about.

Terri is an overweight teenager who has to wear pajamas to school because they make him feel more comfortable. He is mercilessly picked on by bullies who comment on his weight and are cruel to him. He is given a lot of attention to by the school principal who invites Terri to join him every Monday before school to chat and spend some time with him. Terri notices another weird kid who tears out his hair from his head named Chad who has his own appointment with the principal and there are others and something dawns on Terri. Terri gets mad because he finds out the priincipal doesn't really care about being friends with Terri, Terri is just part of an outcast group of losers who also have weekly appointments.

Terri becomes friends with Chad and it makes sense because in real high school kids that are outcasts can find real friendships with each other and it makes them feel better about themselves. Terri also sees a very pretty girl who becomes part of a degrading sexual act and Terri is drawn to her hurt. They start to pass notes to each other and the pretty girl likes Terri because he is nice to her. Terri and Heather connect because they are both nice people and nice to each other. Also realistic is the relationship between Terri and his uncle who is in the early stages of dementia. Uncle James is a lot for a teenage boy, who also has to deal with bullies and growing pains, to also handle.

In a dark but perceptive scene Terri invites Heather over to his house to hang out. Chad shows up drunk and starts to ruin Terri's time alone with Heather. All three spend the night together and experiment with some alcohol and the conversation starts to get very adult. I loved this scene because in so many high school movies these days you would not get a real scene like this. Most high school movies are shallow and more interested in jokes and phony situations. All these characters speak like real kids who are trying to grow into adults.

"Terri" unfolds and gets deeper and the characters become real and captivating and I love the performances. I loved the high school principal who is also a nice guy and at first we feel like he is too nice and his motives feel phony but we realize he is genuine and is another outsider who can sympathize with Terri. The principal is played by John C. Reilly and Reilly is amazing again. This is one of our best actors and he is just fascinating to watch and listen to. There are great scenes between him and Jacob Wysocki and Wysocki as Terri is also amazing. He gives a natural performance and nails the character down flawlessly. There are also great performances by Creed Bratton (TV's The Office) as Uncle James, Bridger Zadina as Chad and Olivia Crocicchio (TV's Rescue Me) as Heather.

"Terri" is a funny, sometimes warm, dark and perceptive movie about teenagers and school and it is a movie that sucks you in. You care about Terri, love his kindness, his relationship with the principal and there is no phony ending that feels wrapped up but a realistic ending with no easy answers. The movie moved me and I loved it's laid back tone and realistic dialogue. It reminded me of my all time favorite movie about high school from 1986 called "Lucas". That movie nailed perfectly what it is like to grow up as an outsider in a place where popularity reigns and "Terri" does the same. "Terri" is easily one of the best written movies of 2011.