This is a film that is not really well known, but sometimes you can come across such a movie and be absolutely dazzled at what it has to offer. In the case of King Jack, it brought me back to a time when I was a gawky teenager and reminded me of just how horrible things can be. Now, I am not comparing myself to the character of Jack (Charlie Plummer) and the sorts of ordeals that he went through. But it did show me just how misunderstood and mistreated some of the people I went to high school with may have been.
And that's where a really good film gets you. It pries back the skin from the surface and shows you the underneath of what you have not before experienced. It brings you to someone's world, for better or worse, and allows you to taste the life that they have endured. You watch it and come away with a new sense of understanding of the world.
Jack is a boy who is socially awkward and get's bullied brutally. This is a coming of age tale, but not one that pulls any punches. It is very blunt and, at times, very awkward to watch. Jack's life gets twisted up when his aunt has a mental health episode, and his cousin Ben (Cory Nichols) comes to stay with Jack and his family. The last thing that Jack wants is to be put as a care giver to his younger cousin, and he is very firm and distant when Ben arrives.
However, and predictably, the two begin to get along. They soften up to each other, and end up beginning to become friends, something that Jack does not have. When his bullies enter the picture, Jack must make decisions about himself, his insecurities and fears, and his family.
What really holds this film together is the acting of both Plummer and Nichols, whose bonding feels as natural as the experiences the viewer has from their formative years. It is a course in authenticity, and is crucial in creating the backdrop for the choices and actions of Jack later on in the film. There are times where I was smiling, saddened, horrified, and stunned by what happened, and it was all possible do to the chemistry that the two young leads had with each other.
That is not to say that the quality of the acting was all that the film had going for it. The direction and script from first time director Felix Thompson ushers the audience seamlessly into the world of the two boys. We don't feel as though we are watching a movie, but rather a genuine slice of life from history.
As I mentioned earlier, this is a blunt movie. It shows the horrors that teenagers have to deal with when they are outsiders, and it does so without making it feel dumbed down and easily accessible and watchable for wide audiences. In this regard, it is similar to The Spectacular Now, which threw teenagers into the struggles of adults. Just like The Spectacular Now, it works on all levels and left me questioning how I viewed and interacted with certain people in high school, wishing I could go back and be a little more open minded.
Rating - 4 out of 4 stars
