The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys

"The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys" stands alongside 1997's "The Ice Storm" and 2000's "The Virgin Suicides" as one of the more sensitive and realistic portrayals of teens growing up during the '70s.

However, this film isn't quite as good as either of those others — in fact, the film is nearly crippled by its reliance on lengthy animated sequences (which were designed by comic-book mogul Todd MacFarlane).

Also, scenes that may work in the source material (the best-selling novel by late author Chris Fuhrman) seem a little too hokey and unbelievable as translated from the printed page to the big screen.

Still, there's no denying that filmmaker Peter Care (a former music-video director) has done a good job evoking both the mood and attitudes of the time period, or that he's assembled a talented cast. Leading that group are Emile Hirsch and Kieran Culkin, who star as, respectively, Francis Doyle and Tim Sullivan, a pair of Catholic schoolboys who are best friends.

The two teens are also into mischief, with the more troubled Tim often getting himself and his friend into trouble. Consequently, their nemesis is Sister Assumpta (Jodie Foster, one of the film's producers), a nun who teaches classes at their school.

The sister disapproves of their activities, including Francis' attempts to write and draw his own comic book — featuring characters that are based on himself and Tim, as well as Sister Assumpta. So Tim plans an elaborate scheme that involves kidnapping wild animals from a nearby reserve. But he may have to attempt it without Francis, who's gotten involved with another student, troubled teen Margie Flynn (Jena Malone).

This latter subplot is actually the most compelling and believable part of the movie, thanks to the chemistry between Hirsch and Malone, both of whom give natural performances. Which is not to take anything away from Culkin, who plays a very different role here than he performed in the 1998 drama "The Mighty."

But screenwriters Jeff Stockwell and Michael Petroni's adaptation gives short shrift to the adult characters, and as a result, Foster and Vincent D'Onofrio (playing a chain-smoking priest who is the school's soccer coach) are somewhat wasted.

"The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys" is rated R for occasional use of strong sex-related profanity, violence (a school scuffle, as well as violence involving animals), crude sexual humor and references, drug use (marijuana), brief gore, a brief and discreet sex scene and glimpses of nude and sexually explicit artwork. Running time: 105 minutes.

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