Gretchen tells the story of 17-year-old Gretchen Finkle (Courtney Davis), an awkward high school girl who has an infatuation with bad boy Ricky Marichino (John Merriman). One night Gretchen's mother finds Ricky in Gretchen's room and forbids Gretchen from ever seeing him again. Gretchen's infatuation with Ricky only seems to grow, but when she spies Ricky making out with another girl, she soon sinks into depression until she finally punches the girl in the eye.
This violent outburst lands her in a home for emotionally unstable teens where, again, she falls for another bad boy, Nick Rangoon (Macon Blair). Nick and Gretchen escape the home together one night, but the "romance" of being on the lamb with him wears off fast. She then decides to seek out her father (Stephen Root), who had abandoned the family when Gretchen was very young. But dear old' dad, who works a very unglamorous job at a greasy hamburger joint, isn't very excited about being a family man again, so he takes off in the night, leaving Gretchen despondent and ready to head back to the troubled teens home. When she finally "graduates" from the home for troubled teens, she heads back to her old school where she's ready to face her fears and overcome her obsession with Ricky Marichino.
The movie is often very funny, if a little slow in places. The whole situation of running away from the home with Nick drags on a bit, although one of the funniest scenes in the movie, a visit to a rather unspectacular "rave," occurs during this episode. And seeking out the dad and moving in with him almost seemed out of place, but Stephen Root's performance is so hilarious that it would be a shame if it wasn't there. Also, the dad bears a striking resemblance to Ricky and Nick, leading us to conclude that Gretchen's quest for "true love" really has more to do with a desire to connect with her missing father.
Courtney Davis nails the performance of an awkward and socially confused 17-year-old girl (but truthfully, she doesn't look 17). Although Gretchen desires to be "bad," she cannot escape her innate innocence, much like Toni Collette's character in Clockwatchers. John Merriman and Macon Blair are equally perfect as angst-ridden bad boy wannabees.
Stephen Root, who gave us the bizarre "Milton" character of Office Space, is even stranger and funnier in Gretchen. Gretchen's futile attempts to communicate with him are among the most hilarious moments in the movie.
Writer/director Steve Collins has delivered a very funny and poignant slice of teen life in this his first feature film. It will be interesting to see what follows for all the talented folks associated with this film.
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