Like its contemporary in time and I think quality "Juno" — “Charlie Bartlett” immediately sets a soft tone by way of a loving family.

Also similar to the Oscar-nominated film, “Charlie Bartlett” takes on some heavy subjects without ever (or nearly ever) actually feeling heavy.

Robert Downey Jr. gives the movie a dose of star power along with a performance that is both simple and complex as Bartlett’s school principal, and the only father figure we see in Charlie’s life.

But the star is Charlie, played by the just-turned-19-year-old Anton Yelchin.
Yelchin makes his character undeniably likable through a transparent joy in listening to others.

The story revolves around Charlie’s own issues, which manifest into good-intentioned rebellion, such as using his family’s personal psychiatrist to supply the school with various medications.

However, the film first turns its attention on the effects of handing out drugs —specifically Ritalin — to teenagers, showing the day-by-day wigouts experienced by the main character while on it.

Teenage angst is unique to the time it lives in; and this modern tale reveals how teenagers’ common inner pain is being dealt with by external means (meaning: pills).
The film views the world through the eyes of those not yet at adulthood; but has a wide enough scope to also see through the eyes of, and have understanding for, the adults too.

I couldn’t help but think about Donna Gaines’ book, “Teenage Wasteland,” and its look into teenage suicide.

Themes of control, like security cameras in the school, are an external representation of the film’s look into a lack of autonomy in teenagers, which is taken advantage of by adults in the form of parenting and psychiatry.

Its insinuation is more that everyone is in pain and trying to deal with it though, rather than that adults are the enemy.

Characters like Charlie’s at-first bully and then business partner Murphy (played by Tyler Hilton), and love interest and principal’s daughter Susan (played by Kat Dennings) give the film that fun exuberance that movies about teens can have.

Addressing important and timely issues while basically having as much fun as possible, “Charlie Bartlett,” is entirely worth seeing.