Of all things, in my freshman year of high school this movie came out and I was stunned. It was about a guy whose own life mirrored my own I just got up and applauded (literally) through the whole thing. Angus was me in school, right down to his geeky friend/sidekick. I was a different kind of person from the rest of the crowd. I was big, and smart, kept to myself mostly but that was so I didn't get into trouble. The biggest difference? I have Tourrette's Syndrome, and was only beginning to show the major ticks associated with it when this movie came out. It was nice to see that people like me could be shown on the big screen in so positive a way. So of course I had to write a review on it here.

The movie is about a fat kid, who like me was good at science and fair at football (though I truly despise football, thanks Coach!) who has a single mom and lives with his grandfather, both played marvelously by Cathy Bates and George C. Scott. Angus wants to get with the popular chick, who just happens to be dating his arch-rival in school that has suffered numerous broken noses over the years from Angus' wrath.

You grow to love his grandad who gives him advice on how its OK to be different, to just "Screw 'em!" If you're looking for a realistic movie about high school and you were different from the rest of the crowd like I was, then Angus is your movie. And his mom, once more like me, seems to be one of the only people who truly ever understand him. Top it all off with his big science project to be able to attend the Magnet School in town, and you've got something spectacular! Add the soundtrack for extra points and I give it a 10 out of 10! "Go for it Angus!" God, I love that line!

Misguided, unfunny film adapted from the short story by Chris Crutcher concerning an overweight high school boy who struggles to gain respect from his peers. Eventually he's invited to the school dance, but it may be just a prank at Angus' expense. Sloppy direction from Patrick Read Johnson sinks a decent supporting cast (including Kathy Bates and Chris Owen),and George C. Scott has a completely routine role as grandfather to Angus (his scenes look as if they were shot all in one day). This kind of cafeteria-comedy manages to tickle some, but the script is wholly uninspired and unoriginal, and the results are crudely obvious instead of interesting. * from ****

"Angus" is a great film. It is the exact opposite of the Clue less, teenage film reign and I love it. It looks at the life of a freshman teen who is un-popular, over weight, and un-apreciated. Just like most of the REAL teens in High School today. Chris Crutcher (who wrote the short story this film is based on) knows exactly how a real teenagers life works who is not popular. This is terrific.