I love this movie so much

the audience applauded

Just perfect...

Better Late Then Never

It's 2 months before prom and Danny Stein (Steven Kaplan) is running out of options. Even unpopular Bart Beeber got a date and a room. Danny is a nerd in charge of prom with his longtime friend Camille (Alia Shawkat). He doesn't want to ask Camille who he wants to be platonic with but everybody just expects it. He wants to ask hot sophomore cheerleader Alice (Ashley Benson) who he drives to school. His divorced parents Ernie (William H. Macy) and Beth (Cheryl Hines) are both out there dating.This is more sad and pathetic than funny. Kaplan isn't charming enough to lead this and bring out the humor. Alia Shawkat is charming enough and provides some of the best scenes. There are some great comic actors but the jokes aren't hitting. The story isn't anything new or special. Nothing is truly funny but it's a passable amateur effort from writer/director Brian Hecker.

I first heard about this movie when Brandon Hardesty announced he had a role in it on his YouTube channel. I waited patiently for it to be released on DVD, since it never played in theaters in my town I completely forgot about it until I saw a copy of it at Blockbuster. I immediately grabbed it, bought it, took it home, and watched it. Right off the bat, it was funny and entertaining. Steven Kaplan does a great job playing Danny, a high-schooler who has everything set for his big prom - except the girl. The majority of the film is him trying to find the perfect girl in the huge high-school environment. His divorced parents, wonderfully portrayed by William H. Macy and Cheryl Hines add lots of humor to the film, such as his dad's advice and tips to help Danny find the perfect girl. Alia Shawkat plays Danny's best friend, who was expecting him to take her to the prom, only to be disappointed that he wants to find different girl. Sure, some of the scenes may be slightly predictable, but still, this is a very funny and touching teen comedy that a bunch of people can relate to.

I started off disliking 'Bart Got a Room' due to its painfully obvious set up, clichés and predictable storyline where you knew where this was going from the get-go. For the most part, it unfolded to where you thought so with just a hint of surprises. The idea behind the film, and hence the title, involves high schoolers scrambling to get a date and a "room" for prom night, since *Bart* got a room. Sure, when Bart's revealed in the room, they overshoot his nerd-factor, but the movie's clearly mean-spirited from all angles on a person that's different from the "norm." Again, they did dress up Bart as the stereotypical arrogant "Napoleon Dynamite," but it was a pretty harsh reality the parents were teaching their kids to be judgmental. Some segments were funny, I'll admit, but those few and far between scenes involved Macy (namely the woman running for her life and the older female with a housewarming gift.) And it was touching how down-on-his-own-bad-luck divorced father Macy would give up everything, including a date with poker-great Tilly, to aid his son's quest for a date. 'Bart' was a sweet, innocent movie (other than few scenes knocking down different people) and you could do worse, but there are far better high school comedies. Such as 'Election,' 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off,' and 'Juno.' You have to give kudos to the lead, Kaplan for trying to carry the movie, but not so much for the supporting case, like the overly clichéd "heavy-set" buddy, the pretty blonde cheerleader and the plain-Jane BFF that, shocking, should be his first pick for the prom. We've seen this plot dozens of times over, and one of my favorites was 'Some Kind of Wonderful.' Ironically, director Hecker, did seem to attempt (unsuccessfully) the heart of most Hughes movies.

I laughed hard, several times throughout this festival film, and I can really saw that I'd like to show this movie to everyone that I know.Brian Hecker attended the screening and was kind enough to answer a couple of my questions, with the other audience members. He was warm and obviously enjoying his films equally warm reception by the crowd. You can see very much of himself is reflected in the authoring of this film.Danny's father could not have been anyone other than William H. Macy. Macy delivered a stellar performance, complete with his special brand of demented enthusiasm. Kaplan as well, has earned good grades in my book with his firmly believable delivery of Danny's desperation, and obsessive behaviour.I'll give this a ten, because nine doesn't feel right.