'The Education of Charlie Banks' review

Jesse Eisenberg, Jason Ritter and Eva Amurri (Credit: Anchor Bay)

It’s the early ‘80s and Charlie Banks (Jesse Eisenberg) is focusing on getting good grades and better girls at an Ivy League college with his roommate and childhood pal Danny (Chris Marquette). Their world is turned upside down by the sudden arrival of Mick (Jason Ritter), a cool kid from the old neighborhood with a bad temper and a violent side, who asks to crash in their dorm. As Mick worms his way into their social life—and steals Charlie’s crush, Mary (Eva Amurri)—Charlie gets the feeling things won’t end well.

The buzz: The true feature directorial debut of former Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst arrives in theaters several months after his Ice Cube-starring family flick from last year, “The Longshots.” You’ve got to assume that wasn’t the way it was supposed to happen, considering the teen angst of “Banks”—which premiered way back at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival—seems like a more logical fit with Durst’s rep.

The verdict: If “Banks” had actually opened pre-“Longshots” it would have signaled a surprisingly smart start for Durst’s filmmaking career. He brings a rocker’s interest in sex, drugs, partying and music to a polished, if mostly familiar, story of class struggle and young people coming of age. Among the solid cast, Ritter is an odd fit in a role that would traditionally go to a more “intense” actor—think James Franco or Channing Tatum. While his performance proves credible enough, he lacks the edge necessary to limn the most tortured aspects of Mick’s soul. Still, there’s a pleasingly awkward dynamic in his exchanges with Eisenberg, who notches another one of his winningly acerbic young adult characterizations.

Did you know? Durst has been trying to transition to directing for several years now. He was originally set to direct “Lords of Dogtown” before it wound up with “Twilight’s” Catherine Hardwicke, and he’s visited the film sets of music video director-turned-auteur David Fincher to get a handle on the process.

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