Hal Hefner stutters and suffers the daily indignities of a typical teenager. However, when he falls in love with the star of the high school's debating team, he finds himself suddenly immersed in her ultra competitive world of high school debating, with its players, politics and its very own set of rules.
For some teenagers, the thought of getting out of bed in the morning to go to school is filled with dread. Case in point - Hal Hefner, a fifteen year old attending Pla... more >
For some teenagers, the thought of getting out of bed in the morning to go to school is filled with dread. Case in point - Hal Hefner, a fifteen year old attending Plainsboro High School in New Jersey, who is trying to make sense of growing up but is burdened by a stutter so debilitating that he cannot even tell the cafeteria worker at school that he wants pizza instead of fish. Rocket Science, the second feature by Jeffrey Blitz (Spellbound), who overcame his own stuttering disability, is a comedy but it is one that poignantly captures the painful loneliness of adolescence.
While Rocket Science sounds like other coming of age films, it offers its own unique and very special look at the pitfalls of growing up without having to rely on grossness, stereotypes, or implausible situations. Brilliantly played by Vancouver actor Reece Thompson, Hal’s sweetness and innocence as a would-be debater is totally captivating and we identify with his pain and root for him to succeed. His family support, however, is virtually nonexistent.
Surprisingly, Hal is recruited by top debater Ginny Ryerson (Anna Kendrick) to be her debate partner after her former partner Ben Wekselbaum (Nicholas D’Agosto) went blank at last year’s championship match. Hal’s first inclination is to say no but he is so taken with Ginny and flattered that someone could see some possibility in him that he accepts and the result is both hilarious and deeply touching. While there are some predictably oddball characters, Rocket Science has few false notes and there is no contrived, upbeat ending. It is wise, honest, funny, touching, and painfully sad with Oscar-caliber performances. It’s not rocket science to figure out why it is the one of the best films of 2007.
