Donnie Darko is a cult classic that most people my age saw when they were in high school or college -- and understood none of it. Despite it's complicated (possibly over-complicated?) storyline, Donnie Darko still lives up to its college age allure.
Maybe I just have a thing for dark comedies, but I swear this genre pulls together a lot of really great movies. Donnie Darko takes it a bit further than the average dark comedy however and spins together a riveting, complex, deeply involving story that's creepy, funny, and thoroughly confusing all at the same time. This one will stay with you after it's over and will likely leave you Googling for explanations.
There's not much to be said about the acting in this movie. It's not particularly good (except for the performance of Donnie's mother played by Mary McDonnell, I thought she was excellent), but it really doesn't need to be. The charm of this film is in its simplicity and as a result there's plenty of room for error without really impacting the plot's delivery.
Essentially the same story fits for the soundtrack and the cinematography. There's nothing groundbreaking in either of these categories (though the haunting Gary Jules cover of "Mad World" at the end was a nice touch), but again it doesn't really matter.
Donnie Darko is a cult classic for a reason. It's not a particularly well made film and it definitely has its flaws, but it delivers an awesome story with wonderfully injected humor and drama. This one is definitely still worth watching even after you're all grown up.
Grade: B+
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