Being Charlie (2015)
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A troubled addict navigates the grueling path of recovery while navigating a complicated relationship and a strained family dynamic.
The story
Charlie is a troubled addict who has been in and out of rehab for years. On his 18th birthday, he walks out of a youth rehab facility in rural Utah and is eventually taken to Los Angeles, where his parents stage an intervention. Faced with the choice of going to jail for property damage or entering an adult rehab program, Charlie chooses the latter. In the program, he meets Eva, who becomes a significant presence in his life. As he navigates the routine of inpatient and outpatient treatment, Charlie must deal with the complexities of his recovery, the influence of his peers, and the strained relationship with his father, a politician running for office.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Charlie is a troubled addict who has been in and out of rehab for years. After being caught stealing painkillers from a man and his mother in Utah, he is taken to Los Angeles where his parents stage an intervention. He chooses an adult rehab program where he meets Eva. While in the program, he navigates a routine of meetings and therapy while his father, David, faces public scrutiny as a candidate for governor. His relationship with Eva becomes complicated; she eventually leaves him after he expresses his feelings. Following her departure, Charlie relapses and ends up on the streets for two weeks. During this time, he is robbed and his friend Adam overdoses and dies. Charlie is briefly taken into custody but is exonerated. On the day of the gubernatorial election, David wins the race. Finally, David and Charlie make peace, and Charlie decides to pursue a career in standup comedy.
- First release year
- 2015
- Runtime (minutes)
- 97
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Rob Reiner
- Writers
- Nick Reiner · screenplay; Matt Elisofon · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Nick Robinson · Charlie Mills; Common · Travis; Cary Elwes · David Mills; Devon Bostick · Adam; Morgan Saylor · Eva; Susan Misner · Liseanne Mills; Ricardo Chavira · Drake; Jake Reiner · Edward Barnes
- Genres
- drama
- Themes
- addiction; recovery; family dynamics
- Tone and mood
- drama
- Setting
- Rural Utah and Los Angeles, contemporary period.
- Premise and plot tags
- semi-autobiographical; dysfunctional family
- Source material / true-story basis
- Nick Reiner's experiences
- Reception
- The film received negative reviews from critics, with some noting that the story was lost in a script full of clichés.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 24% · review count: 42; Metacritic · score: 47 · scale: 100 · review count: 18
- Production trivia
- The film is loosely based on the experiences of the director's son.; The film gained renewed attention following allegations regarding the director's son.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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