Read Time:2 Minute, 7 Second
These days, it seems that everyone wants to be at least a little bit famous—by getting the most likes, the most followers, or even a spot on that reality TV show that could change everything. And in Teen Spirit a quiet teenager fights for fame, competing to trade life on the farm for life on stage.
Teen Spirit stars Elle Fanning as Violet, a shy teen who lives with her single mother on the Isle of Wight. Though she spends most of her time in school, at work, or caring for her horse, she dreams of something much bigger than her quiet life in the country. After singing at an open mic night, she meets Vlad (Zlatko Buric), a former opera singer who encourages her in her dream. When Violet signs up to compete in a teen singing competition, she asks Vlad for his help—and, together, the two begin the journey to stardom.
Violet’s quest for fame and fortune is really nothing new or surprising. It’s a common topic for books and films—and one that’s often more powerful and inspiring than it is in Teen Spirit.
The characters definitely have promise—especially Vlad, the down and out opera star, and Violet, the young girl with big dreams. Their relationship and their story could be moving and dramatic; it could inspire or caution. But it generally falls flat.
Despite its increasingly driving pop music soundtrack, Teen Spirit is surprisingly lackluster. Violet may be musically talented, but she doesn’t have much of a personality to speak of. She’s quiet and rather bland—and though Fanning is clearly playing up the awkwardness of this fish-out-of-water character, her discomfort in her glamorous new surroundings mostly comes off as indifference to the whole situation. She says little and smiles less, and she never really gives audiences something to care about.
The other characters, too, generally come and go without much fanfare, often blending into one another as Violet faces minimal conflict on her road to stardom. And while the film shows a lot of potential—both from its soundtrack and its talented young star—there simply isn’t anything here to get viewers fired up.
Teen Spirit offers lights and music and a tale of one girl’s fight to trade milking goats and waiting tables for performing in front of thousands of screaming fans. But, unfortunately, all of its promise seems dimmed by its bland characters and forgettable drama.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
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Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.