Cast: Kieran Culkin, Jena Malone, Emile Hirsch, Vincent D'Onofrio, Jodie Foster, Jake Richardson, Tyler Long
Director: Peter Care
Producers: Jodie Foster, Meg LeFauve, Jay Shapiro
Screenplay: Jeff Stockwell and Michael Petroni, based on the book by Chris Fuhrman
Cinematography: Lance Acord
Music: Marco Beltrami
Animation: Todd McFarlane
U.S. Distributor: ThinkFilm Inc.
Let me begin by stating what I assume every other review of this film will mention: Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys has nothing to do with the current crisis ripping asunder the Catholic Church. Instead, it is an offbeat coming-of-age story based on the cult novel by Chris Fuhrman. As brought to the screen by first-time director and music video veteran Peter Care, with an able assist from animator Todd McFarlane (the creator of the "Spawn" comic book), this movie takes the radical approach of combining the poetry of William Blake, underground comic book content, Catholic school in the '70s, incest, and teen friendship into an ambitious final product. And, while there are times when the film's reach exceeds its grasp, the production works more often than it doesn't.
Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys isn't your usual coming-of-age movie. Although elements of the film are reminiscent of Stand By Me (the group of male friends) and Ghost World (the dark, cynical undercurrent), Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys stands on its own legs. The serious issues are counterbalanced by a whimsical sense of humor. Among the most striking aspects of the movie are its occasional forays into animation. The characters are engaged in creating an underground comic book with characters like "The Muscle" and "Captain Asskicker", and, in sequences that are designed to resemble the Saturday morning superhero cartoons of two decades ago, we see these fantastic creations in full motion as they battle the evil "Nunzilla".
Tim Sullivan (Kieran Culkin) and Francis Doyle (Emile Hirsch) are best friends and classmates at a Catholic high school. They spend their days and nights devising pranks and working on a comic book project that they call "The Atomic Trinity". Both Tim and Francis have graphic alter egos, and their nemesis is a caricature of the school's disciplinarian, Sister Assumpta (Jodie Foster). Oh, and the pair are also altar boys for Father Casey (Vincent D'Onofrio) - hence, the title. One day, Tim comes up with an idea for the ultimate prank - to drug a cougar at a local zoo, steal the dozing animal from its pen, and sneak it into Sister Assumpta's room. His plan is ambitious but seemingly without hope of success. Meanwhile, his constant co-conspirator, Francis, has fallen for pretty Margie Flynn (Jena Malone), who is receptive to his advances. Everything seems to be going well until Margie reveals her secret and Tim and Francis have a falling-out.
Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys is told from the perspective of a couple of high-school outcasts. Thus, their parents play virtually no part in the movie, the adult figures at school come across as one-dimensional bad guys, and they live life with a sense of invulnerability. In a way, their superhero alter egos are more than drawings - they're an extension of how Tim and Francis feel about themselves. Of course, during the 105 minutes that the movie is on screen, both of them experience a rude awakening.
As Francis, Emile Hirsch gives a nice, low-key performance that is in keeping with a generally serious-minded boy who is being led astray by a prankster friend. Kieran Culkin, probably best known for his role in The Cider House Rules, is a perfect fit for Tim. With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he says things like "serious trouble beats serious boredom," then backs up the words with actions. He's not a bad kid, but often acts before thinking things through. As Margie, Jena Malone gives a memorable turn as a girl who isn't as naive and normal as she seems to be. With her work here added to recent appearances in Donnie Darko and Life as a House, Malone is developing an impressive resume. The film's higher-profile actors, Vincent D'Onofrio and Jodie Foster, have supporting roles that give them a little screen time but no real opportunity to develop personalities (especially since their characters are intentionally presented as one-dimensional authority figures seen through the kids' eyes).
There's a lot to like about Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, even if, in the final analysis, there are some things that don't work (the stuff with the cougar, for example). The animated sequences - lively, colorful, and energetic - are amongst the movie's high points, and director Care does a good job evoking the tribulations of adolescence. The romance is handled with the sensitivity demanded by the subject matter it encompasses, and the friendship between Francis and Tim is credible. Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys isn't the best coming-of-age story to hit the big screen, but it skirts new territory, and does so with a flare that earns it a recommendation.
© 2002 James Berardinelli