3 Stars
No, its not what you're thinking. There are no scandalous church coverups of sexual abuse or clergymen lurking in the shadows. "The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys" is simply the story of rebellious eighth-grade Catholic schoolboys and their fight against small-town boredom.
Set in the mid-1970s, the film deals with adolescent male friendship, focusing on the bond between Francis Doyle (Emile Hirsch) and Tim Sullivan (Kieran Culkin). Francis is a talented young artist who keeps a notebook of the boys' drawings, which they call "The Atomic Trinity." His illustrations add a surreal element to the film, which is animated in part, allowing the viewer to delve further into the personal struggles depicted in his work.
Many of the comics involve battling Sister Assumpta (Jodie Foster), their nemesis in both the real world and in their fantasy creations. Foster's atypical role as a devout nun -- a strict disciplinarian who allows no room for mistakes -- provides the classic, stereotypical role of a Catholic schoolteacher. A woman of little tolerance (or personality), Sister Assumpta does not tolerate even the reading of such "dangerous thinkers" as William Blake.
Tim, the leader of the boys' mischievous adventures, is a character worthy of sympathy. His family situation is unclear but certainly troubled. Desperate for affection and eager to escape the routine of his mundane life, Tim finds trouble wherever he can, paving the road to a violent though somewhat predictable fate as his pranks become increasingly perilous.
Then comes the one element capable of damaging the bonds of this model friendship -- a girl named Margie Flynn (Jena Malone). However, this also introduces the major flaw of the film. Margie, Francis' first love, harbors a secret that has caused her to consider suicide.
Her character, one capable of so much potential, is a complex figure stuck with a shallow persona and poor dialogue. Given the serious nature of her secret, a shallow depiction weakens her interaction with Francis.
Though she serves her purpose by creating friction between the boys, her character also presents the viewer with issues that aren't addressed. Much of Margie's dialogue seems random and superfluous in a half-hearted effort to create conflict.
