I wasn’t expecting anything when I rented Words on Bathroom Walls… all I knew about it was that it was an early post-closing theatrical release and that it starred Charlie Plummer who was just in the last movie I saw (and loved) Spontaneous. I’m not so in love with Plummer I need to chase down his movies but he was charismatic so I decided to give another of his movies a shot.

The film stars Plummer as a teen with schizophrenia who is fresh from a bad experience at his old school, now trying a fresh start at a Catholic school. He meets and falls for a smart girl who he hides his condition from… a condition that involves voices, darkness, and the presence of three hallucinogenic companions: the bodyguard, the hippy chick, and the horn dog from a 90s teen comedy.

This is ultimately a very thoughtful and well-meaning movie with a couple of charming leads who work well together. It’s certainly well acted and well intended. I think it treats his mental condition seriously… except when it decides to turn it into a sitcom with the imaginary friends. I’m so mixed on this gimmick since it is just that: a gimmick. It seems to serve only the purpose of comic relief or an excuse to allow the audience a comfortable way to deal with his condition. A way to laugh at it without laughing at him maybe? It’s confused and confounding.

I have no idea if this movie is accurately reflecting schizophrenia or if people with the condition will find it offensive. All I know is that, when it’s being cute about it, it doesn’t work. But when it’s taking it seriously – which it more often does – it’s effective and moving. I cared for the characters and hoped they would work things out.

In the end, I just have to ignore the cutesy stuff and enjoy the movie when it’s taking itself seriously. It’s a smart and honest character study starring bright young actors. And the comedy didn’t offend me so much as disappointed me. But it’s still a good movie with more good outweighing the bad.

Score: 85