Yeah, that's right. My favorite movie is the little known gem that is Angus. From the opening title sequence featuring Love Spit Love's "Am I Wrong" synched to the performance of a high school marching band during halftime to Angus' last dance with the girl of his dreams, this movie is darn near cinematic perfection. Why? The main reason why is because the characters are human. They aren't all pretty boys. They're real people with real problems. Angus is a fat kid without a dad. That's something I definitely can relate to. He's trying to find his place in life, trying to make it through the hell that can be high school. That's also something I can relate to. He's also in love with a girl who is seemingly unreachable. Once again, definitely something I can relate to. Combine this with brilliant dialog, an all-star cast, a great soundtrack, and genuinely heartwarming moments, and you have a great movie that slipped under most people's radar. It is my goal in life to get every person I know to see this movie, as well as Donnie Darko.
The fact that this movie did poorly boggles my mind. The only explanation I can give is that it was ahead of its time. It was released in 1995, when teen movies were definitely not in vogue. The cast is simply amazing. The teenagers, headed up by newcomer and relative unknown Charlie Talbert as Angus, do an incredible job as high school students who actually look and act like high school students.
James Van Der Beek, in his first big screen role, is fantastic as the bullying pretty boy jock, Rick Sanford, who torments Angus and his equally outcast friend, Troy. In fact, James did such a great job for me that I still can't watch an episode of Dawson's Creek without visions of that jerk, Rick Sanford, running through my head. Then there's Charlie Talbert, who shows a ton of promise as Angus. It's a shame he never really did anything after this. Chris Owen, famously known for his role as Sherman in American Pie, is hilarious as Angus' geeky pal, Troy. With some of the funniest lines and delivieries in the show, Owen provides a lot of the comic relief. Finally, we have Ariana Richards (the Jurassic Park girl) as Angus' object of affection. She really isn't in the movie a whole bunch, as many of her scenes with Angus were taken out. This is kind of a bummer because those scenes really add to her character and her chemistry with Angus. She really shines in the last part of the movie, as her character proves that not every main girl in a movie has to be stuck up and dumb.
The adult cast in this movie is even more outstanding and includes three Oscar winners. George C. Scott, in his final role, portrays Angus' grandfather. The chemistry between the two and their dialog is truly amazing to watch. Kathy Bates plays Angus' mom. What can I say except it's Kathy Bates. She's amazing. Rita Moreno (West Side Story) plays Angus' dance teacher in one of the funnier moments in the movie.
Encapsulating this brilliant movie is an equally brilliant soundtrack, featuring artists such as Love Spit Love, Green Day, Mazzy Star, Weezer, Dance Hall Crashers, Peter Gabriel, The Goo Goo Dolls, Ash, The Muffs, and Smoking Popes. Each song goes perfectly with the movie, especially Love Spit Love's "Am I Wrong" which pretty much sets the whole tone. The sequence with Peter Gabriel's "Washing Off the Water" always brings tears to my eyes, and Angus and Melissa's dance to Mazzy Star's "Fade In To You" is simply beautiful.
The thing that I like most about this movie is that it has heart, which is lacking in so many films these days. I also love how Angus doesn't have to change who he is to get what he wants or to be respected by his peers. I always hate that about other movies like this, which is why they aren't nearly as good. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you think. I honestly believe that if everyone saw this movie, the world would be a better place.