Mean Creek (2004)

Plot:When a teen is bullied, his brother and friends lure the bully into the woods to seek vengeance.

George is the school bully. This seems like a cliché for a film that focuses on youngsters. But we soon learn that he is a kid with a lot of problems. After he beats up Sam, the time for George to be put in his place arrives. So Sam, along with brother Rocky, Clyde, and Marty, hatch a plan that will see George forced to jump in the river during a boat trip and have to run home naked. Another member of the group, Millie, played by the excellent Carly Schroeder, is reluctant to go along with the plan.
As the boating trip progresses, the group eventually see that George isn't the bully he appears to be. So the whole joke is called off, and we see them continue with the trip by doing what youngsters should do everyday of their lives, having fun and enjoying themselves.so before the rest of the group see the 'real' George, we feel sorry for the 'bully'. in the middle of the second act, the film takes a different turn. Marty himself is being bullied by his elder brother so decides to exact his wrath on George, even when the others are reluctant.
so the story becomes, Bully becomes victim, victim becomes bully, the tables are turned for both George and Marty, which is a genius turn from the film makers.
I was quite impressed and surprised with Scott Mechlowicz, who played the leader of the group. You may have seen him as Scotty in "Euro Trip" back in 2004. However, this is a much different role for him, and really shows off just what a terrific and compelling actor he really is.Rory Culkin does seem a little stiff in a key role.
"Mean Creek" had me going right up to its climax. But after that, I found the movie spiralled downward into a mainstream maelstrom of recrimination, guilt, and shoddy attempts at a cover-up. How many times in movie history have we seen this scenario play itself out, with predictable results? I had hoped, and indeed expected, that "Mean Creek" would offer something new and fresh.
3/5