Growing up in a retirement community in Florida isn't easy. But rather than letting a childhood spent in what he calls "the most un-hip environment in the world" land him on the therapist's couch for eternity, first time filmmaker Brian Hecker decided to mine his adolescent pain for comedic gold. The end result—"Bart Got A Room"—plays like a modern version of a terrific '80s high school comedy. It's light and sweet, with just enough heart to give it some staying power.

The film's autobiographical premise is basic, which is why it works. Danny (played with aplomb by newcomer Steven Kaplan, who's a mix between Michael Cera and Jerry Seinfeld) is a skinny nerd with recently divorced parents who is looking for a date to prom. "It's bad enough that I couldn't find a prom date, it's worse that I had to be tagged along on the dates of my divorced parents as they, too, desperately searched for love," Hecker has said. "I was very fortunate to get such great actors as William H. Macy and Cheryl Hines to portray my parents. Hines' energy is astoundingly similar to my mother's, and right after Macy had dinner with my dad and I, the night before we started shooting, he leaned over and whispered to me, 'I get it.'"

From the flirty little blonde he drives to school to the pornographic poet in his English class, Danny's desperate search for romance (or at least a one-night fling) is incredibly endearing—especially when his misguided and completely overzealous dad gets involved with the hopeless mission. Do yourself a favor and don't miss "Bart Got a Room" when it opens our second annual Gen Art Chicago Film Festival on June 23rd—which means five nights of films and fabulous after-parties!

- Caroline Stanley

Similar Topics:comedy, film, Gen Art Chicago Film Festival

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