Bobby’s Intermission

What draws you in more—a movie about activism or idealism? There are certainly a lot of activism movies to choose from, but what tends to touch the heart of the moviegoer is a hopeful idealism of the future. Ironically, Justin Atkinson’s Bobby’s Intermission uses a young teen’s love of movies to send him into a future full of opportunity.

Young Bobby (David Griffith) wants to be a director when he grows up. With graduation around the corner, Bobby spends his days making movies on his iPhone with his brother, Jimmy (Spencer La Casse), until Bobby drops his iPhone. Needing money, his mother offers to pay for the repair on the condition that Bobby gets a job.

Having only one passion in life, Bobby gets a job at the local drive-in theater, working with Natalie (Rommy Romero), Kelli (Adriana Tokin), and Bobby’s friend, Ralph (Paul Vang). All four have dreams beyond high school. Natalie wants to be a composer, and Ralph wants to be an actor. Finding synergy, Bobby invites his new friends to help him make the short film he needs for his application to USC’s prestigious film school. In the process, friendships are tested, dreams are dashed, and there’s a financially wrecked drive-in to save.

This may sound like a criticism, but it’s not. Bobby’s Intermission simply oozes optimism. What helps is that none of these kids have a social media account; they only have one another and a love of movies to spur them on.

“…a young teen’s love of movies to send him into a future full of opportunity.”

The film’s central theme is that Bobby wants to attend USC for film school. He is obsessed with watching and making movies. Seeing that the local teens are bullying Bobby, she makes him get a job to meet other people and find community. Add to this a few subplots, including Bobby taking his friendship with Ralph for granted, his crush on Kelli, and Natalie finding the courage to share her love of music with others.

I can not forget the other story of drive-in owners Walt (Brad Belich) and Mary (Stephanie Cudd), who are faced with losing their drive-in when Walt receives a massive cash offer. Their dilemma becomes a valuable lesson in the power of community and the shared love of cinema.

To be fair, Bobby’s Intermission feels like a cinematic after-school special. It’s full of positivity, life lessons, and youthful innocence—perfect for your young teen looking for an alternative to Disney Channel fare. The acting is on par with Disney shows, and the optimistic outlook on life can detract our typical Film Threat reader looking for a dark tale with gore. It’s not here.

What’s clear is that there is that writer/director Justin Atkinson loves to make movies, and his passion is all over this film. There’s a joy that comes with making movies together in a community. Like a good indie filmmaker, he makes the most of his small set and budget. What stands out is his use of CG animation in creating Bobby’s short sci-fi thriller. The animation is clean, and a lot of work has been put into making it look like a top-notch submission to film school.

Bobby’s Intermission radiates optimism and celebrates the magic of cinema. It’s a heartwarming tale of friendships, dreams, and a love of movies. For anyone who believes in the power of storytelling to inspire and unite, this film is a reminder of why we’ve fallen in love with the silver screen and how it brings us together.