The Psychiatrist Is In

Today I am a movie critic.

I just finished watching an awesome movie. Charlie Bartlett. It's a comedy starring Anton Yelchin, who by the way has an adorable accent. He's fun to just listen to. Anyways, the movie is the best high school themed movie ever. No exaggeration. Well, it may come off as an exaggeration to you, but to me it's perfect.

It touches base on peer pressure, popularity, loneliness. All built around relationships. A relationship between a post borderline alcoholic father and a teenage daughter, trust issues between adults and kids, and the most important relationship of all: you and yourself. It's magnificent. The movie tapped into how parents, specifically, want their kids to go to college in something specific, something where they can be successful, career-wise and financially, but which in actually is not passionate enough to ensure happiness. This movie hits home. But not too hard that it makes you feel bad. It's a total feel good movie in a anti-corny way. It'll make you smile. It's in a category that I love: it makes your heart smile.

Charlie becomes something of a psychiatrist @ his school. He gains popularity, trust. People know who he is and respects him for what he does. But what they like most about him, I think, is that he listens. He doesn't judge, he listens. It makes you think. How many people can you talk to where they just listen? They don't make you feel bad about talking about pursuing a dream or hearing about your anxiety or internal hardships? Who listens to you? Better yet (and this is what I loved about the movie), who supports you? I'm talkign about 100% support. The kind that makes you feel better about yourself, that convinces you just a little bit more that you're not foolish, naive, or just plain crazy. Who makes you feel that it's okay to be a dreamer? Dreaming's good. Why wake up when you can be happy?

I loved this movie. It was funny, ironic, and teaches people a thing or two: you may need medication for ADD or anxiety attacks, but what you really need is an ear and shoulder to lean on. Well, maybe not a shoulder - shoulder's get tired and they shrug. A wall. Yeah, you need a wall. That's better support. Find yourself someone who's the concrete to your wall. No fear, no regrets. Never worrying about being judged a tiny blip or judgment. Most importantly, you need to listen. You don't realize how important it is for you to just shut up and listen. But a lot of people can't do that. Only when you need someone to listen is when you realize how important it is for you to listen back.

Trust. Trust in others, but especially.....trust yourself. That's what Charlie Bartlett taught me. That's what he can help you understand. That is, if you take the time and patience to just....listen.

If you feel confused, alone, misunderstood, invisible, lost, distrusted, unappreciated, this movie will make you feel better. And it will make you laugh. And smile. It'll just make you feel good!