Review: Dismissed

(imdb.com)

It's always a little uncomfortable when a child star transitions into adulthood. If done well, this move can come with an entirely new fan base and well deserved accolade. Done poorly and the complete brand change can feel rushed, phony and problematic. Especially in acting, many young stars have found it difficult to move from small screen kid’s television shows to big screen or primetime adventures. Look no farther than Disney which has churned out star after star with some great successes and some awkward failures. Currently on an uptick though, is one of the breakout stars of The CW's Riverdale, Dylan Sprouse.

With his latest feature, an Orphan-esque teen horror film titled Dismissed, the future seems bright for Sprouse, even if the resulting film is ridiculously shallow entertainment. Dismissed follows a new high school student, Lucas, who's hell-bent on receiving an A and getting into Harvard. Things transpire as one might guess when he receives a B on a paper that looks more like a novel than an assignment. Dismissed also stars Kent Osborne (Adventure Time) as the offending teacher, Chris Bauer (The Wire) as Lucas's father and Rae Gray (Fear the Walking Dead) as a victim of Lucas's villainy.


Dismissed is most reminiscent of a Lifetime movie, but with a horror edge. Like a paper-thin Orphan, it definitely is a tossed together project meant to capitalize on Sprouse's recent fame. The plot is far-fetched, the dialogue is often ridiculous and the characters are sometimes flat. Dismissed isn’t even all that interesting given the plethora of other, more superior obsession stories available. Yet, there is something oddly satisfying about this movie.


Despite its many flaky shortcomings, this film finds the light in its actors. Each of the actors is fantastic in their relatively melodramatic and over-the-top roles. Osborne's plays a caring father who will do anything to protect his family well, even if his dramatic dialogue is a bit cheesy and Gray's Becca is scarily gullible. But as mentioned, the truest star is Sprouse who captures the meticulous and unhinged Lucas well.


How does Dismissed end? Exactly how you think it will. This movie offers no surprises, no shock value and very little scares. But as a whole, Dismissed makes it far on its short little legs. It’s an easily digestible, stupidly enjoyable endeavor that anyone could rip apart but most will probably just rather sit around and invest around a television with friends. 6 out 10.