Watch The Secret Lives Of Dorks
- PG-13
- 2013
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5.0 (731)
The Secret Lives of Dorks is a comedy and coming-of-age movie from 2013. The film directed by Salomé Breziner and stars Gaelan Connell, Vanessa Marano, and Riley Voelkel in lead roles. The movie revolves around Payton (Gaelan Connell), a nerdy high school student, who secretly harbors feelings for the popular and beautiful Carrie (Riley Voelkel). Unfortunately for Payton, Carrie is in a relationship with the quarterback of the school football team, Clark (Beau Mirchoff). In addition to his crush on Carrie, Payton also struggles to fit in with the popular crowd and deal with bullies who make his life difficult.
Payton's best friend, Samantha (Vanessa Marano), tries to help him get Carrie's attention by making a bet that if Payton manages to get a date with her, then Samantha will take him to the school dance instead of going with her current boyfriend. This sets Payton on a path of self-discovery, as he tries to overcome his shyness and become more confident.
Throughout the movie, Payton's secrets and embarrassing moments come to light as he navigates through high school life. He discovers that being yourself is the key to finding happiness and acceptance. Along the way, Payton experiences heartbreak, learns about loyalty, and creates new friendships.
Gaelan Connell impressively portrays Payton's awkwardness and the character's transition from a quiet and reserved student to a more confident and assertive person. Vanessa Marano is excellent as Payton's best friend, bringing humor to the movie with her witty one-liners and encouraging demeanor. Riley Voelkel as Carrie showcases the complexities of popularity and the pressure of being in a relationship with someone who controls everything. The rest of the cast is also impressive in delivering their performances with authenticity and genuineness.
The Secret Lives of Dorks' plot tackles the realities of adolescence and the struggles of fitting in, which makes it relatable to the movie's target audience. The characters are more than just caricatures, and each possesses a unique personality, which makes the film stand out from other high school comedies. The movie avoids typical high school tropes and instead provides a fresh perspective on the popular versus nerdy dichotomy.
The film mostly takes place in the high school setting with a backdrop of everyday teenage life, filled with high school drama, cliques, and crushes. The cinematography is simple, but the use of bright colors accentuates the light-hearted tone of the movie.
Overall, The Secret Lives of Dorks is an entertaining and enjoyable movie that will take you back to your teenage years. The film delivers its message of embracing one's individuality while addressing the challenges, insecurities, and social pressures that come with high school life, making it relatable and heartwarming.
The Secret Lives Of Dorks is a 2013 comedy. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.0 and a MetaScore of 32.