Bart Got a Room
Encyclopedia
Bart Got a Room is a 2009 comedy film
written and directed by Brian Hecker, and stars Steven Kaplan, Alia Shawkat
, William H. Macy
, and Cheryl Hines
. Also appearing in the film are Ashley Benson
, Brandon Hardesty
, Kate Micucci
, Jennifer Tilly
, Dinah Manoff
and Chad Jamian Williams as Bart. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival
on April 25, 2008. It had a limited US release in select theaters on April 3, 2009 and was released on DVD on July 28, 2009.
y high school senior Danny Stein (Steven Kaplan) and his unsuccessful attempts to secure a prom
date while his divorced father and mother (played by William H. Macy
and Cheryl Hines
respectively) are on their own unsuccessful quests to find love. The film's name comes from the fact that the most unpopular kid in school, Bart Beeber (Chad Jamian Williams), not only secured a date for the prom, but got a hotel room after as well. This is a source of great anxiety for both Danny and his family.
. The film is a semi-autobiographical story inspired by Hecker's life growing up as a nerd in South Florida. Hollywood Hills High School
was used for the shooting of some scenes in the film. This movie marked the first time that Alia Shawkat
, Dinah Manoff
, and Michael Mantell
have worked together since their appearances on the 2001-2002 TV series State of Grace
.
Band at the Hollywood Beach
Bandshell
.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
written and directed by Brian Hecker, and stars Steven Kaplan, Alia Shawkat
Alia Shawkat
Alia Martine Shawkat is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Maeby Fünke in the Fox series Arrested Development.- Personal life :...
, William H. Macy
William H. Macy
William Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...
, and Cheryl Hines
Cheryl Hines
Cheryl Ruth Hines is an American actress and director, known for her role as Larry David's wife Cheryl on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. She currently appears on the ABC sitcom Suburgatory...
. Also appearing in the film are Ashley Benson
Ashley Benson
Ashley Victoria Benson is an American film and television actress, and model. She is known for her role as Abigail Deveraux on Days Of Our Lives , Carson in Bring It On: In It to Win It, and Hanna Marin on Pretty Little Liars.Benson was born and raised in Anaheim Hills, California...
, Brandon Hardesty
Brandon Hardesty
Brandon Allan Hardesty is an American comedic performer and actor. Hardesty posts original comedy videos as well as "uncanny" recreations of scenes from movies, playing every part himself, excluding a few of his projects, such as his Little Rascals and the original Batman movie...
, Kate Micucci
Kate Micucci
Kate Micucci born March 31, 1980) is an American actress, comedian and singer-songwriter, whose first major television exposure was as Stephanie Gooch in Scrubs, and later as Shelly in Raising Hope...
, Jennifer Tilly
Jennifer Tilly
Jennifer Tilly is an American actress and poker player. She is an Academy Award nominee, and a World Series of Poker Ladies' Event bracelet winner. She is the older sister of actress Meg Tilly.-Early life:...
, Dinah Manoff
Dinah Manoff
Dinah Beth Manoff is an American stage, film and television actress and television director best known for her roles as Elaine Lefkowitz on Soap, Marty Maraschino in the film Grease, Libby Tucker in both the stage and film adaptations of I Ought to Be in Pictures, for which she won a Tony award,...
and Chad Jamian Williams as Bart. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival
Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Film Festival is a film festival founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff in a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the consequent loss of vitality in the TriBeCa neighborhood in Lower Manhattan.The mission of the festival...
on April 25, 2008. It had a limited US release in select theaters on April 3, 2009 and was released on DVD on July 28, 2009.
Plot
The film chronicles nerdNerd
Nerd is a derogatory slang term for an intelligent but socially awkward and obsessive person who spends time on unpopular or obscure pursuits, to the exclusion of more mainstream activities. Nerds are considered to be awkward, shy, and unattractive...
y high school senior Danny Stein (Steven Kaplan) and his unsuccessful attempts to secure a prom
Prom
In the United States and Canada, a prom, short for promenade, is a formal dance, or gathering of high school students. It is typically held near the end of the senior year. It figures greatly in popular culture and is a major event among high school students...
date while his divorced father and mother (played by William H. Macy
William H. Macy
William Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...
and Cheryl Hines
Cheryl Hines
Cheryl Ruth Hines is an American actress and director, known for her role as Larry David's wife Cheryl on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. She currently appears on the ABC sitcom Suburgatory...
respectively) are on their own unsuccessful quests to find love. The film's name comes from the fact that the most unpopular kid in school, Bart Beeber (Chad Jamian Williams), not only secured a date for the prom, but got a hotel room after as well. This is a source of great anxiety for both Danny and his family.
Cast
- Steven Kaplan as Danny
- William H. MacyWilliam H. MacyWilliam Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...
as Ernie - Cheryl HinesCheryl HinesCheryl Ruth Hines is an American actress and director, known for her role as Larry David's wife Cheryl on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. She currently appears on the ABC sitcom Suburgatory...
as Beth Stein - Alia ShawkatAlia ShawkatAlia Martine Shawkat is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Maeby Fünke in the Fox series Arrested Development.- Personal life :...
as Camille - Ashley BensonAshley BensonAshley Victoria Benson is an American film and television actress, and model. She is known for her role as Abigail Deveraux on Days Of Our Lives , Carson in Bring It On: In It to Win It, and Hanna Marin on Pretty Little Liars.Benson was born and raised in Anaheim Hills, California...
as Alice - Brandon HardestyBrandon HardestyBrandon Allan Hardesty is an American comedic performer and actor. Hardesty posts original comedy videos as well as "uncanny" recreations of scenes from movies, playing every part himself, excluding a few of his projects, such as his Little Rascals and the original Batman movie...
as Craig - Kate MicucciKate MicucciKate Micucci born March 31, 1980) is an American actress, comedian and singer-songwriter, whose first major television exposure was as Stephanie Gooch in Scrubs, and later as Shelly in Raising Hope...
as Abby - Jon PolitoJon PolitoJon Polito is an American actor and voice artist, who is known for working with the Coen Brothers, most notably in the major supporting role of Italian gangster Johnny Caspar in Miller's Crossing. He also appeared in the first two seasons of Homicide: Life on the Street and on the first season of...
as Bob - Jennifer TillyJennifer TillyJennifer Tilly is an American actress and poker player. She is an Academy Award nominee, and a World Series of Poker Ladies' Event bracelet winner. She is the older sister of actress Meg Tilly.-Early life:...
as Melinda - Katie McClellan as Gertie
- Dinah ManoffDinah ManoffDinah Beth Manoff is an American stage, film and television actress and television director best known for her roles as Elaine Lefkowitz on Soap, Marty Maraschino in the film Grease, Libby Tucker in both the stage and film adaptations of I Ought to Be in Pictures, for which she won a Tony award,...
as Mrs Goodson - Michael MantellMichael MantellMichael Mantell is an American actor. He has had many small parts in American movies and television shows, including Eight Men Out , Bart Got a Room, Ocean's Thirteen, Thank You for Smoking, Angel, How I Met Your Mother, Love and Marriage, and The West Wing...
as Dr. Goodson - Chad Jamian Williams as Bart
- Angelina Assereto as Marcie
Production
Filming took place in Hollywood, FloridaHollywood, Florida
-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...
. The film is a semi-autobiographical story inspired by Hecker's life growing up as a nerd in South Florida. Hollywood Hills High School
Hollywood Hills High School
Hollywood Hills High School is a secondary school located in Hollywood, Florida, that teaches grades 9–12.-Small Learning Communities:Hollywood Hills High School Contains Small Learning Communities*The School of Business and Human Services...
was used for the shooting of some scenes in the film. This movie marked the first time that Alia Shawkat
Alia Shawkat
Alia Martine Shawkat is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Maeby Fünke in the Fox series Arrested Development.- Personal life :...
, Dinah Manoff
Dinah Manoff
Dinah Beth Manoff is an American stage, film and television actress and television director best known for her roles as Elaine Lefkowitz on Soap, Marty Maraschino in the film Grease, Libby Tucker in both the stage and film adaptations of I Ought to Be in Pictures, for which she won a Tony award,...
, and Michael Mantell
Michael Mantell
Michael Mantell is an American actor. He has had many small parts in American movies and television shows, including Eight Men Out , Bart Got a Room, Ocean's Thirteen, Thank You for Smoking, Angel, How I Met Your Mother, Love and Marriage, and The West Wing...
have worked together since their appearances on the 2001-2002 TV series State of Grace
State of Grace
State of Grace is an American comedy-drama series that ran for two seasons on the Fox Network's Fox Family channel during 2001 and 2002.-Plot:...
.
Reception
The film won "Best of Fest" awards at The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, The Asheville Film Festival, and The Chicago Gen Art Film Festival.Soundtrack
In the opening sequence, the film features the song "Sing Sing Sing", played by the Hollywood Hills High SchoolHollywood Hills High School
Hollywood Hills High School is a secondary school located in Hollywood, Florida, that teaches grades 9–12.-Small Learning Communities:Hollywood Hills High School Contains Small Learning Communities*The School of Business and Human Services...
Band at the Hollywood Beach
Hollywood, Florida
-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...
Bandshell
Shell (theater)
In theater, a shell is a curved, hard surface designed to reflect sound towards an audience.Often shells are designed to be removable, either rolling away on wheels or flying into a flyspace...
.