'SELF-MEDICATED' OVERDOSES ON AN AMATEURISH SCRIPT.Byline: BOB STRAUSS Monty Lapica's "Self-Medicated" has one really good thing going for it. The semi-autobiographical film in which the young writer-director also stars takes us inside a legally and medically questionable treatment facility for wayward youth and, in a persuasive but not too melodramatic way, exposes the abuses, absurdities and even some of the odd positive effects of such dubious institutions. But that's about the only aspect of "Self-Medicated" that isn't overwrought o·ver·wrought adj. 1. Excessively nervous or excited; agitated. 2. Extremely elaborate or ornate; overdone: overwrought prose style. . Or, for that matter, that's decently written and acted. Andrew Eriksen, a bright, upper-middle-class teenager, reacts to his father's death by partying too hard, letting his grades slip, getting into fistfights and randomly shooting pedestrians on the Las Vegas Strip The Las Vegas Strip (also known as The Strip) is a 4 mi (6.7 km) section of Las Vegas Boulevard South, most of which has been designated an All-American Road. with (gasp) paintballs. Played by writer-director Lapica, who is only a few years older than the character but looks at least a decade too old for the part, Andrew also constantly argues with his pill-popping mom, Louise (Diane Venora). Hypocrisy aside, she's genuinely worried about her only child's behavior and hires the friendly folks from Brightway to kidnap and "treat" him. While he's fairly honest about what's wrong with Andrew and, sometimes, displays a wicked sense of humor Noun 1. sense of humor - the trait of appreciating (and being able to express) the humorous; "she didn't appreciate my humor"; "you can't survive in the army without a sense of humor" sense of humour, humor, humour , Lapica is also prone to portraying his alter ego A doctrine used by the courts to ignore the corporate status of a group of stockholders, officers, and directors of a corporation in reference to their limited liability so that they may be held personally liable for their actions when they have acted fraudulently or unjustly or when as smarter and more cunning than anyone who tries to mess with mess with Verb Informal, chiefly US to interfere in, or become involved with, a dangerous person, thing, or situation: he had started messing with drugs him. Emotionalism -- there's a whole lot of crying and talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to God/Daddy's angel -- is also heavily indulged. And speaking of angels, do we really need another humble, magical African-American (William Stanford William Stanford (1837 - 1880) was an Australian sculptor. He was born in England in 1836 or 1837 and as a youth was apprenticed to a stone mason. He came to Victoria in 1852 and for a time worked on the diggings at Bendigo. Davis plays a homeless spirit, named Gabe no less) to give the troubled white boy a good talking to? Everyone can relate to losing a beloved parent and losing one's way, and "Self-Medicated" will surely move some viewers with the power of its premise alone. Heartfelt it clearly is. Disciplined and focused on what's truly intriguing about the story, not so much. SELF-MEDICATED - Two stars >R: drug use, language, mild violence. >Starring: Monty Lapica, Diane Venora, Michael Bowen, Greg Germann Gregory Andrew Germann (born February 26, 1958) is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as Richard Fish in the television series Ally McBeal. Germann was born in Houston, Texas and raised on Lookout Mountain outside of Golden, Colorado. , Kristina Anapau. >Director: Monty Lapica. >Running time: 1 hr. 47 min. >Playing: Laemmle Monica, Santa Monica. >In a nutshell: Sporadically interesting story of a teenager's struggles with an inept drug treatment facility is undone by amateurish presentation. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: A teen boy struggles to deal with his dad's death and inept medical care at a treatment center in the decidedly amateurish "Self-Medicated." |
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