Raising Genius (2004) User Reviews (13)

Justin Long's profoundly annoying and disturbing character

[moderniste · 5/10 · 10 April 2012]

Rather than look at the merits of the film as a whole, I'll focus on Justin Long's strange and disturbing performance of a character who really gets under your skin. There is a definite distinction between how annoying and irritating the *character* of Hal Nestor is and Long's portrayal of him; Long does such a good job that I found myself not liking Long on a personal level. It took some remembering of roles I did enjoy, like his Apple commercials, to realize that it was Long's talent that was producing this effect.

The character of Hal Nestor is written really well, and defies a whole slew of stereotypes. The arch-typical nerdy math savant who doesn't fit in and longs for the popular girl ALWAYS turns the tables on establishment (his mom and his high school class in this case), gets the girl, and triumphs in the end. This type is usually portrayed as a misunderstood genius/saint. But Hal/Long doesn't achieve *any* of these typical goals.

Instead of the sweet saintly outsider, Hal/Long is a nasty piece of work. He's highly manipulative, pathologically narcissistic and just plain mean. Because of his distorting narcissism, he thinks so highly of himself that I have to wonder if indeed he was any kind of math prodigy. He never challenges his solutions against any known establishment like a teacher or professor; he just keeps scribbling away and locking the outside world out. The writing is so good, and Long so disturbing that I frequently found myself cringing when he enacted one of his childish manipulations to get what he wanted. Long also does a great job of looking the part, with his pale, skinny and wasted frame, and a head of the greasiest stringiest hair I've ever seen. And Long in his private life is a handsome guy who is known for his fashionable mop of trendy hipster hair.

The rest of the film has its flaws, to be sure. But Long's and the writers' character study of Hal Nestor is masterful, and makes the movie memorable, and something I'd recommend.

FIVE, SIX, SEV-EN, EIGHT...

[nogodnomasters · 4/10 · 28 May 2019]

Hal (Justin Long) is a high school senior and a genius. How he made it this far is not known. He has locked himself up in the family bathroom to work on a formula. Like an autistic child he doesn't like to be touched. His mother Nancy (Wendie Malick) and father (Stephen Root) are very tolerant of him. When not working on formulas, Hal spends his time watching Lacy (Danica McKellar) the neighborhood girl practice her cheers on a trampoline.

The film is quirky and Justin Long gives us an unconvincing performance. The writers wanted to create an illusion of genius without having to think too hard. Note the periodic table on the bathroom wall. Real genius kids would have that thing memorized. The more complex Chart of the Nuclides would have been appropriate. The film starts to reveal itself as the question of Hal's confinement is due to his inability to cope with life, or the result of his mother's raising him to be a genius.

In either scenario, I found the humor to be forced, the situation and characters unrealistic in this dark comedy of parenting.

Parental guide: No f-bombs that I recall, no nudity, minor sex scene. Stephen Root in his underwear and socks.

Just a MESS!

[jimeri2006 · 2/10 · 14 January 2007]

This film had so many basic movie 101 flaws; it was just a mess. The premise of the genius teenage son who locks himself into the bathroom, (surrounded by family, friends, and neighbors who are by no means helpful) seems to be a good enough start. And certainly with the talented cast involved, I thought for sure this movie couldn't go wrong. However, with a very inconsistent narrative style (voice overs from multiple characters that drop in randomly, serving no purpose other than to cover story gaps), the ever switching p.o.v. (who's story was this? Mom's? Son's?) and the confounding love-like-hate relationship with Mom and Son (are we suppose to sympathize with them, hate them, laugh at them, love them, like them?), this movie elicited nothing from me other than confusion, and the question, "What was I supposed to get from this?"

This is not "black comedy"......

[merklekranz · 1/10 · 14 July 2009]

This is not "black comedy", nor any kind of comedy for that matter. This is also not entertainment. Who ever thought that having Justin Long locked in a bathroom, with his twisted Mother on the other side, screaming at each other would be entertaining? The redundant plot is neither creative, or clever, but is a plenty boring. Fine actors are totally wasted, Ed Begley Jr. and Stephen Root, especially. For a "black comedy" to succeed, it must be outrageous, which this is not. For a "black comedy" to be entertaining, it must have at least one sympathetic character, which this does not. For a "black Comedy" to succeed, it must be funny, which this certainly is not. Quite simply this is not "black comedy". Avoid at all costs. - MERK

Strange satire that fails to be funny or entertaining.

[biskebor · 2/10 · 21 September 2006]

This is a satire that is usually more strange than entertaining. The idea had potential, and the actors have talent, but sadly it fails to deliver. The main character, Hal, is a kid with OCD who is afraid to leave the bathroom. Hal is played by Justin Long, who seems to be doing a bad impression of Milton Waddams from Office Space (one of my favorite movies). Unfortunately Hal is not half as funny Milton. Hal's father is played by Stephen Root, who played Milton in Office Space. Stephen takes his role seriously, and gives a good performance, but he's not funny - he's serious. Wendie Malick also plays her role well, but again in a serious way. The only funny character in this movie is the eccentric grandmother. The theme is there - people with misplaced values taking life too seriously and making themselves miserable. But it's just not entertaining.. It's weird. Basically the movie has an identity crisis. Sometimes it tries to be funny, and sometimes it tries to be serious, but overall it fails at both.

Wretched waste!

[hemisphere65 · 1/10 · 18 August 2007]

Unless you are a hardcore Justin Long fan, do not bother watching this overwrought, pretentious garbage. Ooooh! Look at me! I'm a "black" comedy! Hold on a second...shouldn't any type of comedy be at least somewhat amusing? Yes, the situations were comedic, but that doesn't cut it by itself. The characters' eccentricities cried out "Plot contrivance!" Everyone seemed extremely one-dimensional, which does not play well in a movie striving to make a point (beat a dead horse) about modern life/society. Poorly written and acted(Did somebody owe Ron Howard some money? How else do you explain the presence of Clint?). Justin Long must have some inside info on some Hollywood bigwigs to continue getting acting gigs; in this particular film, he outdoes himself with a horrible performance. Do not bother!

Odd, but worth seeing.

[EskimoEmma · 27 January 2007]

I agree with the first comment in that the movie needs to make up its mind as to whether it's serious or comedic. However, overall, I did enjoy it. I found certain parts so eccentric that it was WILDLY funny, though in a horribly twisted manner. I laughed until my sides hurt at the bathroom scene when his mother picked the lock...but I won't say anymore about it. The only problem I had was that the sex scene did not seem to fit in well with the rest of the movie. I think it should have focused more on Hal's reactions than the actual sex. However, the rest of the film certainly makes up for it. Just keep in mind that the movie was rated R for a reason.

Not entertaining

[cowqueenus-30970 · 2/10 · 11 January 2020]

I cant even get thru this movie. It does keep my interest...I walked away to do dishes.

Teenager hesitant about moving on in life locks himself in bathroom to avoid life/his mother, who loses control of her son, but takes control of her life

[DGusset · 6/10 · 3 August 2007]

I think some previous user comments have missed the point. This movie is not so much about the son, Hal, as it is about the mother, Nancy.

This movie kind of reminds me of the TV program "Malcom in the Middle" except this is a family with an only child(adolescent). The characters are over-the-top caricatures, each with a few quirks we can relate to. Hal wants to hide from the expectations put on him finishing high school, and his mother doesn't know how to control her son anymore, or take control of her own life. And the father doesn't even know what's going on. Other comical roles by the typical psychologist, grandma, aunt, friends & neighbours. It's not a great movie, but well-enough crafted, with a fresh look, and the actors are entertaining (it's fun to see Justin Long, the Mac guy, in the role of Hal). I certainly had a few good laughs (being a middle-aged mother myself.... maybe it's a "chick flick").

Kooky and Fun

[pinkflamingopen · 9/10 · 19 March 2004]

Just saw this film at a festival--

Really, really kooky and wonderful!! What a great cast, too. Everyone was funny. Wendie Malick did her usual thing, which is always funny.

Ed Begley Jr. and Marc DeCarlo were great in supporting roles, as was the trampoline jumping cheerleader (Danica McKellar).

Stephen Root seemed to reprise his "Office Space" role, but hey, it was funny. And Justin Long sort of did an impersonation of Stephen Root in "Office Space." But it was actually REALLY funny.

This movie just keeps taking left turns into kookiness that somehow, someway, TOTALLY works. I give it a thumbs up.

Movie About Crazies Where Mom FINALLY Becomes Sane..

[rothleland · 6/10 · 21 January 2020]

U got to somehow make it to the ending after ALL the sub-plots get worked out to appreciate Mom waking up & FINALLY doing her thang!

Perhaps today's version of Harold and Maude.....

[edvincent708 · 10/10 · 23 April 2007]

A fun quirky ride down the entrails of humor. Perhaps today's version of Harold and Maude. I am not certain that there is a normal person in the film at all. The young man with hormones on fire for a cheerleader and another portion of his brain juggling equations to find balance - is perhaps more common as a metaphor in today's world of indulged youth and pampered realities.

It is a fun gallop with a myriad of notable actors and actresses. This is a slice of today's world seen through the eye of a gifted director Bess Wiley. Ms. Wiley has worked the camera with some of today's best directors and she directs this soon to be cult classic with inventive camera angles and a flair for art and drama.

If you enjoyed Harold and Maude, you will love this film. I even like this film better than the 1971 film directed by Hal Ashby.

Clever and amusing, well cast, good acting.

[kathypaints · 10/10 · 11 June 2006]

Not sure if there's really a spoiler in this, but just in case ---

This film was clever, subtle and amusing. Wendie Malick ("Dream On" and "Just Shoot Me") was the perfect overachieving 50's style mother, with the always-pressed linen apron and the flower-studded headband. Stephen Root ("Office Space" and that dodgeball film with Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller) gave the father and husband a winning weirdness, especially when he polished his wife's toenails. Justin Long showed his brilliance as the smart and devious son, staying in the bathroom to be able to write his mathematical formulas on the walls, and to avoid giving the high school valedictorian speech that his mother was writing. Makes you wish your dysfunctional family had been more like this one; a genuine and funny film with a lot of charm.