Middle school is a time in our lives that some of us would rather forget. For the most part it was good to me, aside from from some questionable sartorial choices and a chubby (and if my memory serves me right overly sweaty) bully named Kieran* who decided I was more of a “Treasure Troll” or a Fievel Goes West than a Shannon. Whatta guy. And though my torture wasn’t nearly as traumatic as Dawn “Wiener Dog” Wiener’s, at the time I probably thought it was devastating. Dawn’s got more than just bullies to deal with: her confusing hormones, a bathroom voyeur, crazy teachers, an insensitive family, and a crush the size of Texas.
Welcome to The Dollhouse is director Todd Solondz’s take on the coming of age dramedy. It’s a refreshing update to the everything-works-out-in-the-end-roll-the-synthy-pop-song type of school films we’ve become accustomed to. Heather Matarazzo’s performance as Dawn is so awesome and at the same time so cringe worthy. You almost wanna give her a pep talk, but then figure why bother ‘cause she probably won’t listen anyway. Then there’s Brendan Sexton III who is great as her aggressor turned paramour Brandon. Remember him? The adorable shoplifter in Empire Records (love. that. film). I remember Welcome to the Dollhouse as being one of the first “indies” I’ve seen that captures so perfectly a darker sense of humor that I love and appreciate. If you’ve never seen a Todd Solondz film than WTTD is a great place to start. Then work your way up to Happiness (my personal favorite) and thank me later.
*Name has NOT been changed to protect his identity. Fuck that.
