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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.
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