moonspinner55
Bebe Neuwirth's performance as a 40-ish chiropractor in New York City who has an affair with a high school sophomore holds the only interest in this ridiculous, inexplicably celebrated independent film shot on digital video. Aaron Stanford plays Oscar, who is described for us as a "40-year-old living inside a 15-year-old's body"; he quotes Voltaire, reveals a fetish for great hands, and harbors a crush on his stepmother, a medical scientist who apparently doesn't notice the moony-eyed look on her stepson's adoring face. "Tadpole" was picked up at Sundance by Miramax, who couldn't market this thing to anyone but the most rabid Sigourney Weaver fans. Weaver does decent work as the object of Stanford's affection, however it is Neuwirth as a sort of updated Mrs. Robinson who steals the show. Otherwise, this is a comedic flirtation with sophisticated manners which is in itself not sophisticated. The clumsy writing spells out everything for us, the characters are all predetermined, and Stanford is singularly without dimension or appeal. * from ****
Howlin Wolf
... At least, in all those instances where close proximity would only make your, uh, 'liver' break...There are times in ones life where knowing an experience is over can help you to move on; because the finality of everything makes it easier to set things in order. It's often easy for us as human beings to find everything BUT what we want, and in searching for that elusive element, we often manoeuvre ourselves into positions that will cause more stress than happiness. For sure, knowledge would be useful if we could gain it without getting burned, but 'experience' teaches us things. Many times in a person's life will they wish they had the ability to call on the excuse: "My soul is above doing stupid things; but my body got impulses to do them anyway, for you"..."Tadpole" shows us that there are wise minds in young bodies, and old bodies with juvenile minds... It seems to have a genuine affection for its characters, and rarely gains its laughter by mocking them. I vouch that not everybody will be able to decipher my complicated ramblings above, but the movie distills them into a meek tale of growing up enough to get away. Everyone must have had periods in their lives when simple issues became suffocating enough for them to flee. Why do you do it? See this movie if for no other reason than to get closer to the truth.Voltaire would tell you that although your destination may not be pleasant, it WILL be different...
Elliott Noble
Tadpole is a near-perfect examination of the male teenage crush. That young Oscar would choose Sigourney Weaver's charming but inaccessible stepmother over her best friend Bebe Neuwirth's irresistible mixture of free-spirited maturity and pure naughtiness nails his condition beautifully. Unconditional sex whenever he wants and he turns it down! The boy has it bad.The adorable Neuwirth steals the show from a very impressive cast (including the late John Ritter and Robert 'AJ Soprano' Iler). But nothing should be taken away from Stanford who shines in the lead role; by turns irritating and pretentious, vulnerable and confused, and angry and resentful – just like any other smart 15-year-old.Hollywood buffoonery of the American Pie variety will always find a bigger audience but anyone who's been one will know that this is what teenagers are really like. This is a refreshing indie that neither preaches nor outstays its welcome.
jofitz27
Films that have plot lines about 15 years old boys falling for 40 year old women who are married to the boys fathers sound like films that should be strictly avoid. Honestly. But what we have here is clever, thorough and downright hilarious.Oscar (surprise surprise) is 15 (though he is obviously much older) and is madly in love with his stepmother Eve (Sigourny Weaver), married (emphasis on that word) to his father. He knows it would be a terrible sin to seduce her, but is so in love it seems a perfect match. His feelings are so strong, they must be correct, surely? But unsurprisingly, he gets more than he bargained for when a night with Eve's best friend leads to confusion and shockingly funny hilarity...It is very hard to like the protagonist, who is socially inept and rude. But this film is clever, thoughtful and funny; shot on Camcorder, it is warm and definitely recommended.8 out of 10
