Colossal Youth (2018)

**_Well-done micro-budget high school flick_** A high school senior in San Antonio juggles his family life, his academic life, his two male friends, his female best friend and the girl he loves. “Colossal Youth” (2018) is an Indie drama/romance focusing on the high school years in the mold of “Love Everlasting” (2016), albeit with the less-grim spirit of “The Breakfast Club.” Being semi-autobiographical of the writer/director’s experiences, it smacks of real-life and effectively depicts the good, the bad and the ugly of the high school years. Fans of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” "Footloose” and "Clueless" should appreciate it, as long as they can roll with its $250,000 budget. While it’s understandably not great like those three, I’d watch it any day over the overrated “The Breakfast Club.” The protagonist, Troy Osterberg, comes across as a taller Tom Cruise when he was young. Meanwhile Reece Everett Ryan is amusing as his best (male) friend of questionable character. Blonde Alexa Dowd stands out on the female front as Siobhan while brunette Kimmy Caruso ain’t no slouch as Erica. The movie runs 1 hour, 38 minutes, and was shot in San Antonio. GRADE: B-