THE DANGEROUS LIVES OF ALTAR BOYS is the latest in a long tradition of coming-of-age stories, and a pretty good one at that. It sticks true to the formula, but pushes the envelope at the same time.
What's unique about this film is that it forces its audience to grow with the main character, Francis Doyle. At the beginning of the film, Francis lives in a pretty carefree world of going to Catholic school and hanging out with his friends, and that is the world that the audience lives in for the first 20 minutes or so. It looks like kid stuff, but don't be fooled--there's some real darkness and depth just around the corner. Francis discovers about life, death, love, and pain, and all these revelations surprise the audience just as much as they surprise Francis.
Live action in the movie is interposed with the comic book adventures of Brakken and the Muscle, the superheroes who are Francis and his friend Tim's alter egos. It's a wonderful addition, adding a physical journey to Francis's confusing emotional journey.
All in all, a very competent film, made more so by wonderful performances from Kieran Culkin, Jena Malone, and Emile Hirsch.
What's unique about this film is that it forces its audience to grow with the main character, Francis Doyle. At the beginning of the film, Francis lives in a pretty carefree world of going to Catholic school and hanging out with his friends, and that is the world that the audience lives in for the first 20 minutes or so. It looks like kid stuff, but don't be fooled--there's some real darkness and depth just around the corner. Francis discovers about life, death, love, and pain, and all these revelations surprise the audience just as much as they surprise Francis.
Live action in the movie is interposed with the comic book adventures of Brakken and the Muscle, the superheroes who are Francis and his friend Tim's alter egos. It's a wonderful addition, adding a physical journey to Francis's confusing emotional journey.
All in all, a very competent film, made more so by wonderful performances from Kieran Culkin, Jena Malone, and Emile Hirsch.