Film Review – Handsome Devil

Writer/director John Butler (2013’s “The Bachelor Weekend”) doesn’t have much in the way of originality with “Handsome Devil,” so he invests in heart instead. It’s smart move, as the story works through familiar coming of age incidents, showcasing personal growth with teenagers saddled with bullying and parental neglect issues — average After School Special stuff. “Handsome Devil” remains alert through engaged performances that know what to do with the emotions Butler introduces, keeping the cast busy trying to define their characters in interesting, even fresh ways. Formula is important to Butler, but he fights to keep the picture as real as possible, touching on personal connections and awakenings, which save the feature from complete predictability. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com