Modern comedy movies are often focused on the awkwardness of growing up unpopular. Likely spurred by the works of famed producer Judd Apatow, a number of other filmmakers have tried to join his league with silly films making fun of puberty. Harold is very much one of those films.
Who is Harold?
Harold is bald, wears coke bottle-style glasses, and walks with a slight limp because he suffers from corns and bunions. His pastimes involve taking care of a tomato plant and watching Matlock and Murder, She Wrote. Despite this, he is actually 14 years old and still finishing junior high, complete with an older, trendier sister who has a look that says Brittney Spears, beaches, and fashion. His condition has made him something of a celebrity in his home town, which is why he is disappointed to find out his family will be moving. Once there, we see him struggle against the resident bully, the high school kids that poke fun at his appearance, the adults that don’t know better, and the popular girl he secretly loves. Cuba Gooding Jr. plays the janitor that befriends him along the way.
Nothing New
This movie goes over familar territory, and that may be its biggest problem. The clichés of the struggling outsider, the sibling rivalry, adult misunderstanding, and even the friendly janitor are all something you've likely seen as a kid on Saturday afternoon TV. In truth, everything about this film: from the lackluster nature of the cinematography to the cliché plot to the flat-falling dialogue, is more of a miss than a hit.
The one saving grace of this film is a supporting actor - a woman in her 60s - who mistakes Harold for a much older man and spends a good portion of the movie coming on to him. Her terrific zeal and hilarious lines are one of the best things about the film.
You might like this film for:
- Awkward teen comedy
