The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys

Name: The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: June 14, 2002
Duration: 104 min
Rating: 69
Cast: Jena Malone, Kieran Culkin

2002

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 16 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 16 Ratings

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The Dangerous Lives Of Altar Boys

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Movie Details & Credits

thinkfilm | Release Date: June 14, 2002 | R

Starring: Jena Malone, Kieran Culkin

Summary: Based on Chris Fuhrman's original and audacious coming-of-age novel, this film is a 70's-set drama featuring two charming but irreverent Catholic high schoolers who confront the mysteries of adulthood. (ThinkFilm)

Director: Peter Care

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 104 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Joe Morgenstern

Essentially a coming-of-age story set in working-class North Carolina in the 1970s. But it's so startlingly original that it transcends the genre. This is a wonderful film, from puckish start to momentous finish.

Stephen Holden

The masterstroke of this small, heartfelt directorial debut (by Peter Care, from a screenplay by Jeff Stockwell) is its integration of animated sequences (by Todd McFarlane) in which action-adventure caricatures of the comic book characters parallel or comment on events in the boys' lives. Read full review

J. Hoberman

Has marked affinities to "Ghost World" and "Donnie Darko." It's more amorphous and less sharply drawn than either but has an acute sense of guilty secrets and secret places. Read full review

David Rooney

The film's chief shortcoming is perhaps its failure to convey a stronger, more atmospheric sense of the repressive 1970s Catholic school environment that breeds the titular boys' rebellion and wild flights of fancy. Read full review

Roger Ebert

If the film had been less extreme in the adventures of its heroes, more willing to settle for plausible forms of rebellion, that might have worked. It tries too hard, and overreaches the logic of its own world. Read full review

David Edelstein

The movie says that the rebellious spirit that generates art can also consume and destroy -- that there's no undangerous way to ride the tiger. Read full review

Lawrence Toppman

The dangers in the lives of these Catholic teens are self-made; they spring from small-town boredom and lead to a conclusion that's meant to be emotionally crushing but is only slightly affecting. Read full review

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User Reviews

JasmineS.

Oct 20, 2005

This movie was really amazing to watch, it makes me think of real life situations, and how it really is like growing up. With tragedy and some predictable, yet unexpected twists.. I loved it! The acting was just great from young people.. I really recommend watching this movie. It touched This movie was really amazing to watch, it makes me think of real life situations, and how it really is like growing up. With tragedy and some predictable, yet unexpected twists.. I loved it! The acting was just great from young people.. I really recommend watching this movie. It touched me, and I loved watching it. It's like me & my friends!… Expand

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HollyeC.

Nov 11, 2003

I loved this movie, i thought it was great. i would've given it a 10 but it was a bit of a shocker when ...(spoilers omitted)... i guess having a dramatic turn is good in a movie but it did get a bit boring and somewhat lost my attention, maybe i just have a short attention span, ohI loved this movie, i thought it was great. i would've given it a 10 but it was a bit of a shocker when ...(spoilers omitted)... i guess having a dramatic turn is good in a movie but it did get a bit boring and somewhat lost my attention, maybe i just have a short attention span, oh well. i really liked it because emilie hirsch and kieran culkin are very hott and good actors. that's my review on the movie, it's not very specific, but whatever. oh yeah, it would've been a lot better if joey wasn't in the movie, he was kind of wierd.. no offense to you joey lovers out there.. since i know he has so many.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Tss5078

Feb 24, 2013

This movie was recommended to me by someone and I was honestly a little hesitant to watch it. It's a young cast, with a first time director, and lets face it, nuns and altar boys? ...it was actually a GREAT movie. It was the perfect balance of comedy and drama, that kept you interestedThis movie was recommended to me by someone and I was honestly a little hesitant to watch it. It's a young cast, with a first time director, and lets face it, nuns and altar boys? ...it was actually a GREAT movie. It was the perfect balance of comedy and drama, that kept you interested throughout. There were also flashes of animation that just added to the story and made it even better. It's hard to describe this movie without spoilers, but I would defiantly suggest you take a chance and check it out!… Expand

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