Flipping Out

After having recently discussed Rob Reiner's Stand By Me, it was interesting to watch another film of his about kids in the 50s, Flipped (2010).  The comparison wasn't good for Reiner.

The movie is based on a young adult novel.  Reiner, who co-wrote the screenplay, kept the plot but moved it from contemporary times to a period he felt more comfortable with.  This was a mistake--the 1950s means about as much to today's kids as the 1850s. (The film was only budgeted at $14 million but didn't even gross $2 million.  No doubt insiders referred to it as "Flopped.")

Anyway, I don't think the graft takes.  Some of the situations and language feel anachronistic, and though the nostalgic settings look nice, and we get to hear yet another 50s soundtrack, it all adds nothing to the story. (Speaking of the settings, the film was shot in and around Ann Arbor.  A lot of films are set in Michigan now that they're offering major tax breaks.)

It's a simple story of pre-teen romance, as we follow the relationship between Bryce (yeah, a lot of boys were named Bryce in the 50s) and Juli from second grade to junior high.  The twist is we see each section of the story from Bryce's point of view and then we go over the same territory from Juli's. 

The biggest flaw is the narration.  I'm not against a little narration, but it's wall-to-wall here.  And the characters regularly describe feelings that Reiner doesn't show.  They're also too self-aware.  This might have worked in the novel, but doesn't play well on screen.

I suppose the story, which is mostly Juli pining for a boy who hardly notices her, goes by painlessly enough.  But the action never cuts too deep, and the secondary characters, especially the adults (played by names--Rebecca De Mornay, Aidan Quinn, John Mahoney, Anthony Edwards and Penelope Ann Miller) are one-dimensional.  However, the girl, played by Madeline Carroll (born 90 years after the Hitchcock actress Madeleine Carroll), is pretty good.  If she can make the transition to adult roles, she'll go places.