When I first found out about this film, it was the title that initially caught my eye. For obvious reasons, I wondered if perhaps this could be some backstory on Batman’s sidekick, Robin, the Boy Wonder. (After seeing his latest appearance in the Arkham City game, I definitely think he’s a character that needs to be explored a bit more).
Boy Wonder is a debut effort by writer/director Michael Morrissey. Here is a synopsis from Rotten Tomatoes: “A young boy witnesses the brutal murder of his mother during a Brooklyn car-jacking. Now a 17-year-old loner, Sean Donovan (Caleb Steinmeyer) is relentlessly haunted by his past and obsessed with finding his mother’s killer. Drawn into a nocturnal urban underworld, Sean’s consuming rage is vented one night, defending himself from a chaotic attack by a drug dealer. Thus begins his life as a quiet, straight-A student by day and a self-appointed hero at night. Investigating a series of vigilante murders, hot-shot new homicide detective Teresa Ames (Zulay Henao) takes an interest in Sean and his case. Engaged in a twisting game of cat and mouse, Sean and Teresa become allies by day … and enemies by night.”
This is the ultimate teen angst movie. Actor Caleb Steinmeyer plays the main character “Sean” with a brilliant mix of vulnerability and aggression. If there ever was a teenaged vigilante loose in the city, I imagine he would be very much like this character: quiet, withdrawn, angry, hurting… maybe a little creepy….
The writing, the cinematography and the acting are all surprisingly good. There’s some funny banter between the cop on his trail and her ignoramus partner plus a lot of believable dialogue between the characters. The film has a sort of low-budget/indie quality which lends a certain charm and gives it that diamond in the rough feel. I couldn’t help but wonder why the film didn’t get more exposure, why I never got the chance to see it on the big screen during its brief run in the theaters. Definitely worth a look. Rating: B+
[Source: Boy Wonder Movie]
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