Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
The Exploding Boy is a comedy/drama about Alex (Parris Bates), a high school student with overbearing parents and a love for puppets. Nobody seems to understand him, so he’s become a bit of a loner. However, things begin to change when a transfer student, Julius (Daniel Q. Taylor), arrives.
Julius takes a liking to Alex and gradually draws him out of his shell. As they get to know each other, Alex begins to open up to him. Can Alex accept his growing feelings for Julius, especially after they have an intimate moment together?
Some Thoughts:
Although The Exploding Boy takes place in modern times, it plays like a poorly conceived low budget movie from the seventies. The dialog is bad, the acting is awful, and the camerawork needs help. But the story is quirky enough to be interesting. And while the film clearly does not take place in the seventies, it doesn’t feel modern. There is technology, but it’s not heavily relied upon, nor is it central to Alex’s social life.
Despite Alex having a gay vibe, the LGBT content takes forever to show up. There’s a scene early on where Alex’s mother (Adrienne Sparks) hints that she suspects that he’s gay, but that doesn’t mean he is. It’s also not clear why Julius is interested in Alex. And it doesn’t help that Alex is such a loner. When Julius tries to get close to him, Alex pushes him away, causing the romantic angle to take a while to get going.
Julius is also a bit of a mystery. He’s embarrassed to admit that he lives in a hotel and doesn’t divulge a lot about himself. We have no idea why his family left California or if he’s actually living with them. Not only that, but how did he suddenly get involved with a high school rock band? And why is he drawn to Alex?
On top of all that, none of the adults are happy with their lives. They’re awkward, unhinged, and often clueless. Their dialog is reminiscent of early John Waters movies, as is the way they deliver their lines. The acting isn’t good, but it also makes me wonder if that’s what directors Ian Southworth and Monty Wolfe are going for. Is it bad acting or is it a style choice? I have no idea.
The Final Verdict:
Unless you have an interest in odd indie movies from the seventies, The Exploding Boy isn’t worth watching.
