TEEN SPIRIT (2019)

Written & Directed By: Max Minghella 
Cinematography: Autumn Durald 
Editor: Cam McLauchlin 


Cast: Elle Fanning, Agnieszka Grochowska, Archie Madekwe, Zlatko Buric, Millie Brady, Vivian Oparah, Rebecca Hall 


Violet is a shy teenager who dreams of escaping her small town and pursuing her passion to sing. With the help of an unlikely mentor, she enters a local singing competition that will test her integrity, talent and ambition. Driven by a pop-fueled soundtrack, Teen Spirit is a visceral and stylish spin on the Cinderella story.

This Film is an adequately brightly filmed Cinderella story at heart. Dressed in AMERICAN IDOL drag. Even if it sounds like a ghost story.

The film offers Elle Fanning in the lead and truly gives her a film all her own to shine but while putting her through the Motions of becoming a professional singer. She is literally the most popular name in the cast. It also makes her the blandest character throughout the film. She can sing decently but other then coming from a more downtrodden home life that is basically presenting her hardships.

Though we never see any personal touches of character with her character. She never shows any passion or heavy interest in her performance, promotion or even competition. Where she seems forced to do it. While everyone else around her seems more jazzed. Though when singing she does come alive a little more.

Where the film tries to make the film more exciting in the performance scenes and feel more bland when dealing with day to day life. 

While this can work for her character showing reluctance or that she is staying the same. It becomes harder for the audience to root for her when even she doesn’t seem that motivated. The only time we see her kind of breakaway from that mold is when she gets drunk and seems to let some pent up rage out, but it all feels so planned that we never really worry about her.

The film is made In Poland which makes her and her situation seem more remote, but other then maybe filming the movie cheaper there. The movie never quite explains or justifies why the film is set there.

The soundtrack is electrifying and familiar with Elle fanning singing covers more in character. The songs are familiar as they are hit songs from musical artists such as Robyn and Sia. Sia even wrote some of the original songs for the movie.

This film is stylish yet comes across as a mice film with good intentions that feels like it never comes alive as it should and feels strangely outdated. Like if it had been made maybe 10 years Ago it would feel more of that time. Now it just feels more been there done that and unfortunately more disposable.

This is a film that might be more for teens but even they might find this a little too slow to actually find interest In. Which is hard as there is nothing really wrong with it. Other then it just feels like the lead character bland.

Can give the film credit as it tries but offers nothing that is daring.


Grade: C-