Self-Medicated

Self Medicated *1/2

Directed by Monty Lapica
Written by Monty Lapica

Starring:
Diane Venora as Louise Eriksen
Monty Lapica as Andrew Eriksen
Michael Bowen as Dan Jones
Greg Germann as Keith
Kristina Anapau as Nicole

107 Minutes(Not Rated)
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*MINI REVIEW

"Self Medicated" is so melodramatic that it's past the point of even being serious. Monty Lapica has made a portrait of a person who is wrecking his life after the death of his father-his Andrew (who he also plays) cuts school, spends the nights getting high, and gets arrested for stupid reasons like shooting people in the streets with paintball guns. His mother gets fed up and worried, and sends him to an institution to get him cured-an institution that may be just as violent and screwed up as he is. Lapica goes for strong emotion with his film, but it all just seems forced and phony-a point made better by his constant stale overacting. Another problem-all of his characters are supposed to be in high school, but all the actors were in their twenties. It gave the feeling of people pretending to be high school kids, and Andrew's friend Nicole (played by Kristina Anapau) seems to think that donning pigtails and running around giddy all the time seems to make her seem younger than she is. This could have been a good movie but goes overboard with trying to tug at your heartstrings that it can't even be taken seriously.

Playing At:

Quad Cinemas