Must Watch: American Teen Movie Trailer

Posted on Friday, April 11th, 2008 by Peter Sciretta

American Teen Movie Trailer

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… American Teen is my favorite film of 2008 so far. Jason Reitman was raving about it at Sundance, and two sold out screenings later, I finally got to see it. I’ve seen the movie twice now, and even skipped out on a movie I really wanted to see at South by Southwest just to see this again. It’s just such a wonderful film.

It’s Fast Times at Ridgemont High meets The Breakfast Club, but non fiction. It’s the first documentary that has true mainstream appeal. It’s a film that anyone who has gone to High School will have no trouble relating to. Remember when a break up was the end of the world? When getting a date to the senior prom meant everthing? This is American Teen. Paramount Vantage has finally released a movie trailer for the film, which can be seen below, and I think it perfectly captures the spirit of the film. Tell me what you think in the comments below.

You can also watch the trailer in High Definition on Yahoo.com. Here are some quotes from the critics:

“If you seek out American Teen looking for an engaging, stylish and surprisingly smart piece of non-fiction entertainment, you’re going to be completely won over.” James Rocchi, Cinematical

“it was often hilarious, even at parts I’m sure I wasn’t support to laugh; it brought out intense emotions, including frustration and sadness; and got me thinking about our society implications more than any other movie in the last few years. This is a brilliant documentary that explores the American high school system in an unforgettable way.” Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net

“American Teen is a documentary that is easy to watch and even easier to fall in love with. The students are real people with whom we can connect, the director’s vision is spot on and her end product caries with it both immense insight and a genuine midwestern charm. To be short: this is one of the best films of the Sundance Film Festival, hands down.” Neil Miller, Film School Rejects

“It would be embarrassing to admit being so emotionally involved with these stories if they were part of a trashy teen-based reality show like “The Hills” or “Laguna Beach.” But “American Teen,” while superficially similar to those shows, is far more respectable. As a documentary, it’s extraordinarily well produced, directed, and edited. It’s also fantastically entertaining, dramatic, and even uplifting, a perfect encapsulation of what it is to be an American teen. Its optimistic final moments will leave you smiling, not just at having seen a great movie, but at having warmly revisited the wonderful world of high school.” Eric D Snider

“For years filmmakers have tried to capture the essence of being in high school and no film has been as successful as the documentary American Teen.” Zack Haddad, Film Threat

American Teen hits theaters on July 25th 2008.

Comments

Jarred

I saw this film at a film festival and fell in love with it. All the characters are so relatable, and the soundtrack also rocks. I hope people go see this movie.

dan

Okay, I know I'll probably get kicked in th nuts, but what the fuck ever.

I dunno, I was beginning to like it until that stupid ass tennis scene that was STRAIGHT OUT OF LAGUNA BEACH OR THE HILLS. That stupid ass set up conversation type shit.

But Peter usually has good taste, so I might give it a twirl.

Peter Sciretta

dan: Thanks for trusting my taste, but even if you don't trust my taste, please just do a search for other reviews. So far this film is batting 100%. I have not run into anyone who didn't like this movie. The last screening I attended, the audience actually gave a moment in the film a ovation (i kid you not). Yes, some of it is done Hills-style, but this documentary clearly isn't The Hills of Laguna Beach. It's one year of high school squeezed into two hours. There is none of that forced melodrama. There isn't even any boring moments. I know I'm giving this one the hard sell, but it deserves it.

Alex (FirstShowing.net)

Yea Dan, give it a chance! I won't deny that the movie is very Hills like... but it's Hills that is stepping on the TRUE domain of American Teen, NOT the other way around.

Great trailer! Really well cut, really shows what the movie is about. Can't wait for this to come out! The trailer really reminds me of why it was so damn good!

George

The pictures and posters made this movie look stupid, but now I want to see it. I grew up in a town not unlike the one shown in the film and getting out was my only goal. I hope they don't spend too much time on the basketball guy, he seems kind of like a generic dumb jock type.

sir jorge

I grew up in the inner city of Los Angeles.

This movie's trailer does not seem to be anything near what my last day of high school was at all!

I'm not sure if this is going to be as massively appealing as some "white" folks will think it will be.

Tendrillar

Great yet another movie about suburban white middle class teenagers. I guess I'll have to go see that new Keanu cop movie to see anything remotely representing where I come from. Though, I gotta tell you gang banging, tattooed cholos are about as relatable to me as any of the characters in this movie.

I'm sick of this shit. I'm sure it's a great documentary, but what the fuck?

Where are the Charles Burnett's of this generation?

I want to see a movie that I can relate to, something that I understand. Not a bunch of sheltered, awkward ,seventeen year olds. Stuff like this only represents a pocket of the world that somehow is the mainstay of American life. The real America is made up of many different colors and cultures. The suburbs is where people go to hide away from the truth about real Americans.

I just don't get it.

Peter Sciretta

sir jorge: Well Yeah I do think it will be more appealing to those who grew up in the burbs, and yeah, the film is not too racially diverse, but I think the archtypes of the characters and the situations are pretty universal. I have not met one person who hasn't liked/related to this film so far... and just to add a slight correction, this film is not about the last day of high school, but their last year of high school.

MIND DANCER

What's the prospective release date of this film?

Also, can you guys kill the incessant beeping on your main page? Beep. Pause. Beep. Pause. Beep. It's maddening.

Peter Sciretta

Tendrillar, to be fair, there are a lot of fictional and non fictional feature films about inner city schools with racial diversity. This is not the goal of this film. I do think that if you gave this movie a chance you'd love it regardless. The director Nanette Burstein (On The Ropes) chose Warsaw Indiana because it represented the most typical American High School. The point of the film is to begin with the typical, the cliched archetypes, and from there to discover how everything isnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t exactly how you thought it was.

Peter Sciretta

American Teen hits theaters on July 25th 2008.

The beeping advertisement is gone (hopefully), if you see/hear it happen again, e-mail me directly through the contact link in the header (and tell me what ad is making noises). I try to weed these out the best I can, but sometimes a couple get through the cracks.

jonny

That last part saved that trailer.... Otherwise It just made me want to puke.
I cant even imagine paying to see that in a theater.

Derek

Theres a lot of grease on the table now... because I put my face on it.

Lucas

This movie looks like fun. Is it getting a wide release?

clarence somerset

I'm not American ... but surely not all American high schools are wholesome right? This is set in a conservative town. What of the inner cities or other schools that aren't so tame?

jonny

Comedy GOLD!

Tendrillar

I understand that, and I'm not saying I wouldn't want to watch this film. I guess I just feel like I've seen this time and time again. I also understand the intension's of the film, but still feel kind of jipped at the fact that it in no way resembles something I feel like I know and that other kids like myself know.

I'll reserve final judgments for when I see the film and discern for myself what it's really about, by trying to go beyond race and social class. I realize how sometimes things like this happen with media that unintentionally portrays certain characters or groups of people in a way that can be touchy or even possibly offensive.

Kind of like the situation with "Black Zombies" in the new Resident Evil game.

But anyhow, I think my first comment was a knee-jerk reaction, a feeling of being left out. But because I haven't seen the film yet I'll keep an open mind.

In the end I think if I really want to see something I can relate to I'll have to make it myself. Life is after all, subjective, some might say.

Thanks for the reply.

ciji

I'm sorry, it looks interesting, but it doesn't look like a documentary. the multiple camera angles make it seem scripted. Unless you mean "documentary" in the same sense "The Office" is a documentary.

Captain Awesome

Not feeling it White America.

Trebek

I can only relate to this film a little from the looks of it. I didn't spend my high school days worrying about trivial shit like the prom. I hated high school. I hated all the assholes it contained.

Maybe I just can't relate because I'm Canadian? I don't know, but I do know that this film probably won't be my cup of tea. Where is the drinking, partying and drugs? These high school kids just seem too "wholesome" to me. I guess it's probably because I grew up in kind of a shithole, where that kind of stuff was common. I spent my high school days wandering the streets painting on walls with spray paint at 2am on a school night and trying not to get jumped, beat up and/or jooked...

Captain Awesome

Trebek,

I think you and I painted the same walls ;)

Trebek

@ Captain Awesome

Hahaha...Good to see some people shared those experiences with me. It just goes to show that this film doesn't portray high school for everyone...

Jay08

Teen angst when they're is nothing to be angst about somehow just doesn't appeal to me. What the fuck do teens today have to be blue about? My ipod like totally won't work, and my mom won't buy me a new one till she gets paid next week...such a drag. I hate this place, no one understands how important I am.
Come on...

If you're documenting life, where are all the films that the 25-40 audience can relate too? The non-sheltered people of the world? The ones who grew up with VHS and BETA and punk rock, gangs, hip-hop and apathetic society?

This is such self-indulgent trash.

Peter Sciretta

There is drinking, drug consumption, partying. One scene involves a couple kids spray-painting "gay" on the student council president's house. Another scene involves a girl sending a topless photo of her former friend to the entire school. In my high school I was also sort of an outcast. I wasn't in the nerd crowd, nor was I with the cool kids. My friends played video games and went to movies. There are two characters that fall into this realm, despite their portrayal in the trailer: Hannah, is the art class kid who doesn't go to school as much as she should. She is different and doesn't want to be a townie like everyone else in her conservative town. She wants to move to California and make movies. And the Geek plays Zelda and has a labyrinth poster on his wall, he has his little group of friends and not much more. I think the trailer is a little squeaky clean to attract a more adult audience. This also explains the Breakfast Club poster.

Peter Sciretta

Jay: I'm almost tempted to say that I'll cover your ticket price if you don't like this movie ... that's how sure I am that you will like it. But if I made that promise to you, I'd have to make it to everyone... and even then, I think I'd have enough money in my pocket to cover the few people who are just in it for the money. If you can't take my word for it, go search for some reviews. Why not on imdb? Go see what other people are saying about the film. Or better yet, go see the film for yourself. I'm sure with such negative expectations, you'll end up leaving the theater with a big smile.

Trebek

Perhaps I'll give it a chance, but just to clarify...When I said I painted on walls with spray paint I didn't mean scrawling stupid words like "gay" and "fuck" everywhere. That's not graffiti. That's just stupid kids. I'm talking about REAL graffiti. I don't really expect people to understand that...But there is a difference...

Mr. B

Well Warsaw IN isn't too different from where I went to highschool (same state) and I'm afriad if I see this I'll essentially relive my last year of high school.

CleverNickname

Yawn.

Why watch this crap when I can just rewatch the Breakfast Club?

Because it's real? It's a year's worth of footage edited down into two hours and we all know how "real" people get when there is a camera following their every movement.

"Oh look at us, we're stereotypes. But guess what? There's more to us than meets the eye."

Talk about a dead horse.

Contm3mpo

Rename: American Crap Movie Teen.

Real? pfffff..... no way.

Ghost

What are we seeing that we already haven't seen already?! You relate it to other movies that we've seen which are obviously visible, but it's a documentary. Oooh wow, so you're telling me what they showed in those old movies was actually REAL?! It does look very tame as well. Maybe this is just a way for filmmakers to get the general public to start watching more documentaries or something. But for some it's a way to stop.

Matt

I'm in the same boat as Trebek and Capt. A. As for the movie I hope they'll come out with a different trailer because this didn't get me excited at all. Looks ok though.

MIND DANCER

Thanks Peter. The beeping appears to be dead ... for now.

Random insight. I grew up near Warsaw, IN. Live in LA now for two years. The diversity of bigger city life might not be reflected on the surface of this flick, but the diversity of personality, and the accessibility of the characters various journeys will be what makes the film spark.

The characters look endearing and seem to have that potential of being an anybody, where you can replace your face with theirs, if not to feel a deep connection, but simply a broad intense connection.

The midwest is a major chunk of this nation, the diversity differs from state to state, and yes, there are many 'white suburbs' ... but emotions and experiences can transcend religious affiliations, ethnicities and etc ...

It looks to be a worthy DOC to view at least once for a satisfying look at the type of American Life that gets analyzed in works like Twin Peaks and the like.

Oliver

This looks like something MTV would do. Very reality-TV. Not a very diverse cast. Doesn't look exceptional at all. Not going to see it.

Hector

That's nothing like the day to day high school dealings of a student... just the stereotypical shit... "the geek" ... "the jock" .... why not focus on just random students.... and there seems to be too much "fake" conversations as mentioned above... the whole movie looks like a fiction movie that would air on MTV.

But I could be wrong. I guess I'll find out once it is released. :-)

John

I thought the zelda stuff was pretty funny him climbing up for the princess in cg. I can relate i was in marching band as well it was a little different since most the people in band had other stuff going on too.

AngryBroomstick

great. another typical teen movie with an all-white cast!!!! How totally American.

oh wait. it's a DOCUMENTARY?!?!?!?

lolz.

Neil Miller (Film School Rejec

Holy smokes people, where did all of this venom come from for American Teen? Last time I checked this movie has played at two film festivals for a grand total of about 500-800 people. I don't know if you can really be making such negative remarks without at least seeing the film.

Honestly, take it from people who have seen the film, people with whom you agree (like Peter -- you know you read this site because you dig his taste in movies). This film is absolutely a legit winner.

Here is the problem that I see, and it is something that is not uncommon in this little industry of ours -- the marketing has mis-sold this film thus far. The Breakfast Club poster was clever, but it was not an accurate representation of what this film is all about. As well, I agree that for the casual onlooker, the trailer has a real MTV/The Hills feel to it. Trust me when I say that the film itself is nothing like that. Underneath the glossy veneer of movie marketing, you will find a film that is relatable, honest and thoroughly entertaining.

And it is not just for the corn-fed kids that populate "white America", as some in this thread have so eloquently put it. I grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, and I related to it. I know Pete grew up near Boston, and he felt the same way. Neither of us grew up in the "sticks". As well, I think the personas that you will see in this movie no matter what setting you put them in. I don't care if you grew up in the inner city, on the farm, in the suburbs, in the north, south, east, west or on a remote island somewhere, every high school has some sort of class system that includes similar elements. Sure, your "jock" might not have been a star basketball player with a Elvis impersonator dad, but your school had a jock, or something like him.

When it all comes down to it, here is what I'm saying -- if you are really stuck in your ways and you are not open to experiencing a well-made film that translates well for anyone, then don't go see it. You are obviously just too closed minded to get it anyway. For everyone else, even those on the fence, American Teen is worth the risk. I knew a girl who lived by the mantra "don't knock it until you've tried it.." and let me say, she seemed like she always had a lot of fun... And I mean a lot of fun...

...

Wait, where was I? Oh, yeah. Go see American Teen. If you don't, you have no room to sit here and spew venom about a frickin' trailer.

/rant

AngryBroomstick

no thanks, but that was a nicely said post.

and again, no thanks. I can easily catch and watch any of those whiney, spoiled, privileged suburban kids for free... in my own area!

Trebek

@Neil Miller

Well said.

Like I said...I'll give it a chance. I never said it's going to be a bad movie, just not my cup of tea.

Also...I know my comments can be a bit abrasive at times, sorry. I should probably try to state my opinions a little nicer. I don't mean to be so venomous.

dur

@Neil

The.post.itself.asks.our.opinion.of.the.trailer...I.think.that.means.both.good.opinions.
as.well.as."venomous".ones....c'mon.dude.

Don't.get.mad.at.the.world.for.not.agreeing.with.you.

Captain_Howdy

I'm there. Looks great.

James

Wow.

Much to my suprise, I click that and see the small city of Warsaw, Indiana being covered. Just so happens I am from Goshen, a town away. Then I see the people in it and laugh. I played tennis against that kid. Warsaw really is your typical small town.

Alex (FirstShowing.net)

Trebek, you have to realize Neil, Peter, and I are all huge supporters of American Teen - we loved it. It was more than just a teen documentary, we know that because all of us have watched it at least 2 times or more!

We're coming out here to debate because, as has been said, anyone can say what they want. But we're trying to rationally explain that their worries about this being another Hills rip-off of boring teen movie are not correct. People can have their opinions, but we want to do our best to tell you that there is a lot more to see in American Teen and we hope you seek that out. This isn't The Hills - this is not only actually real, but not a glossy MTV hype creation. American Teen is worth your time and money and we will fight until the end when everyone actually goes out and sees this in theaters and determines that for themselves. :)

Jack M.

What makes this any different from Made or True life?

Paul S

Yeah just looked like 5 episodes of true life in one. I like true life, but this doesn't look too special. Maybe the movie will be better but bad trailer if that's not what the movie is like.

DG

Well despite all you fools doubting it, I'll stick with the very convincing and reassuring posts from the staff. Sure the trailer sent the wrong message, but how many films have you seen that have been marketed wrong, and turned out to be fantastic? I'm going to see it.

Matt

DG, I could ask you how many times, or how many people you know, have seen a movie on a whim that has horrible advertising, your only glimpse into the movie, but you've gone to see it anyway b/c of hearsay or critic reviews? My point being that without good advertising the movie won't do well for itself. Sure, there are exceptions, but for the most part any product with bad marketing tanks.

ciji

@ Neil,

Talk about spewing venom!

You asked and answered your own question. Why are we not interested in this movie? Because the trailer makes it look uninteresting. And we were asked what we thought of the trailer. Hence, the comments.

If you don't for the opinion expressed, fine, but don't tell folks they can't say what they think when they are asked for their opinions. This is an open forum: discussion will ensue and opinions will be shared. And please don't dare criticize our choice to not like something you like by calling folks "close-minded". That's just elitist and wrong.

Captain Awesome

I know some of you guys really liked it. But you asked people to watch this trailer, as stating in the title of the article. Some of the posters here weren't as moved as you were. But if the trailer didn't grab anyone then that's sort of the point of a trailer isn't it?

To be honest, the trailer didn't do anything for me, almost at all. And while you guys got to see it before some of the posters here. I'm not going to run into a theatre to watch it because you guys liked it. Well because, I've never would do that. That or until they release another trailer that somehow changes my mind.

But as it is, this looks like something I wouldn't even watch on television.

Enrique

Uhm... does anything interesting actually HAPPEN to these kids? The trailer makes it seem like it's any day in high school life. Does the climactic struggle involve the kids freaking out over who's driving who to prom?

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