Dare2009

A high school coming-of-age film that dares to push the envelope. It doesn't always succeed, but that's not for lack of trying.

It tries hard to be a "coming of age" movie, but in deciding to focus on sexuality as the sole issue for three teens it simplifies and degrades itself into a one trick pony i.e.message) short story. Alan Cumming has a juicy, if self righteously preachy, role as the "messenger" but the message is rather sophomoric, as is the film. Zach is his usual persona: overtly complex, but basically angst ridden. The character of Ben is ridiculously shallow; a gay teen not just coming out but spewing out. The parents are all shallow characters, as they always seem to be in these teen "who are we?" movies. It's mostly pretentious drivel chock full of quasi intellectual writing.

This "Cruel Intentions"-style cesspool of teenage hanky-panky may be more scandalous than its chaste Disney counterpart, but that doesn't necessarily make it any more authentic.