Movies - Angus

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Angus is a 1995 film based on the short story "A Brief Moment In The Life of Angus Bethune" by Chris Crutcher. The film stars Charlie Talbert and James Van Der Beek in their first film roles, as well as Chris Owen, Ariana Richards, and Academy Award winners George C. Scott, Kathy Bates, and Rita Moreno.

Some consider the film as a superficial after-school special for its familiar underdog story and inherent preachiness. The film was largely forgotten amidst other obesity-related films that came out at the time, notably Heavyweights
(1995) and Heavy (1996). Others conclude that it more accurately portrays high school life than most other films about adolescence, since it takes a critical view of obesity, bullying, self-esteem, and high school inclusiveness, while highlighting the importance of assuring oneself in an ideologically competitive world.

Of note is the performance of newcomer Charlie Talbert as the title character and the interaction between Angus his grandfather (Scott), the latter whose philosophy can be summed up in his recurring line: "Screw 'em!"

Plot synopsis

Angus Bethune (Talbert) is a 14-year-old boy who, despite his talents as a football player and in science class, holds deep insecurities about himself. His high school peers, led by the handsome Rick Sanford (Van Der Beek) and his complacent cohorts, regularly harass Angus for not being "normal," since Angus is pathetically overweight and is, in their view, "named after a cow". Because of this, Angus applies for a science school where he hopes to be free of the constant humiliation. Such infamy has shied Angus away from revealing his feelings to his secret crush, the blonde cheerleader Melissa Lefevre (Richards), for fear that she will reject him, and because she is currently dating Rick. Rick, however, is not lost on Angus' wish: As the ultimate prank, he rigs an election so that Angus and Melissa will dance together in the upcoming Winter Ball as King and Queen, respectively.

Frightened upon learning this, Angus gets help from his best (and only) friend Troy Wedberg (Owen), his mother Meg (Bates), and his narcoleptic Grampa. His grandfather tells him about a dance move called the Irish Swoon that he claims is a guaranteed lady-pleaser, but Angus fears that his largeness makes him an inept dancer and would embarrass both him and Melissa. To fix this, Grampa takes Angus to Madame Rulenska (Moreno), where despite Angus' best efforts he comes out worse than before (and injuring the hapless Madame in the process).

One day after football practice, Angus opens his locker and sees that his favorite pair of boxers are missing. Angus and Troy learn later with their own eyes that their fellow quarterback Rick hoisted his boxers up the flagpole for the school to see, which then fly squarely onto passerby Melissa's face. Angus storms home in anger, but Rick and company quickly kidnap Troy, asking him for anything that would embarrass Angus at the Winter Ball. Troy refuses their request and tries to escape, only to break his arm as he trips to the floor while Rick gives Troy an ultimatum.

Meanwhile, Angus helps Grampa prepare for his marriage to the young thirty-something named April. As Angus waits with Grampa in his room on the day of the wedding and confides with him his love for Melissa, he tries to wake him, but he quickly discovers that he is dead. Distraught, Angus opts to stay home for a few days (time in which, for fear that Rick will hurt him even more, Troy procures a videotape to Rick).

Later that week, while cleaning up from the wedding, Angus receives a box from April and opens it, revealing the plum suit that Angus had earlier rejected. Resolved to grant Grampa's wish, he rejects an interview from the science school he applied to, wears his plum suit and marches to the school gymnasium, where the dance is held. Angus meets Melissa, and the two converse for the first time. As they are introduced to the students, Rick plays Troy's videotape on the monitors, which shows Angus dancing with an inflatable doll. The students laugh while Melissa runs out of the gym, and Angus follows. Outside the gym, Angus apologizes, yet surprisingly Melissa shows her disgust with Rick and reveals that she is bulemic. Finding common ground, the two return to the gym and dance, even as Melissa helps him out with some of the steps. After the two receive a mild reception from the students, Rick scolds Melissa, while Angus comes to her defense. It is here that Angus finally confronts Rick and petitions him to realize that there are in fact many people that don't fit Rick's idea of "normal," are unwantingly ostracized for it, and are fed up with the humiliation. Rick refuses Angus' plea; nevertheless, the students congratulate Angus for taking a stand.

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Movies - Angus

Plot synopsis

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