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There are a number of classic
feel-good-fish-out-of-water-coming-of-age films that appeal to the awkward adolescent in
all of us; unfortunately The Battle of Shaker Heights is not one of them. This
latest Project Greenlight film endeavor doesn’t even hold a candle, let alone sixteen of
them, to the brat pack legacy.
To grasp the concept of Battle,
imagine Screech from Saved by the Bell is suddenly possessed by the spirit of
Breakfast Club bad boy John Bender with all his witticisms and defiant attitude
toward authority. Add to this an affinity for WWII battle reenactments, an upper-class
best friend and his eccentric family, a crush on an older woman, and the usual hardships
of growing up. While it has all the makings of an intriguing film, it ends up delivering
the typical dramatic teen comedy fare.
Kelly Ernswiler (Shia LaBeouf), the
protagonist, is the only multidimensional persona in a film packed with uninspired
characters and cliché scenarios. Regardless of his genuinely funny and well-executed
performance, he lacks the stamina to carry the entire film alone. The result is
entertaining, but unlike the Hughes films, which are classic portrayals of the tumultuous
teen years, this film is utterly unmemorable.
