DVD Reviews

Charlie St. Cloud – DVD Review

By June L. Nov 30, 2010, 15:10 GMT

Charlie St. Cloud (Zac Effron) is a young man overcome by grief at the death of his younger brother. So much so that he takes a job as caretaker of the cemetery in which his brother is buried. Charlie has a special lasting bond with his brother though, as he can see him. Charlie meets up with his brother (Sam) each night to play catch and talk. Then, a girl comes ...more

The St. Cloud brothers are a formidable team. Charlie has won a sailing scholarship to college, and Sam although a bit younger and way more interested in baseball than sail boats, is his right hand man.

When tragedy strikes and Sam is killed, Charlie shelves his dreams to remain faithful to a promise he made his brother.

It is hard to put this film in a specific genre. It could be called a ghost story that has romance, or even a story about love that includes ghosts. It has action and adventure, and drama and tragedy, but it also has touching moments and humor.

There is an otherworldly thread that runs through the story, not eerie or creepy, but seems to speak of spirit and perhaps of what lies beyond death.

Zac Ephron plays Charlie, in a solid and convincing dramatic performance that heralds his arrival as an adult lead in a film. Charlie Tahan plays the younger brother Sam, with just the right amount of childishness and wisdom.

Amanda Crew is Tess the girl who eventually touches Charlie’s heart, and there are powerful moments with Ray Liotta as the EMT who miraculously was able to bring Charlie back from the dead the night of the wreck.

This is the type of film that is entertaining on the surface, but has a depth of plot that will give viewers food for thought. Author Ben Sherwood (The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud) says that in writing this story he wrote what he hoped could be the truth about an afterlife.

The nobility of Charlie trying to honor his promise to Sam while the rest of the town thinks he is wounded by his brother’s loss and perhaps simply crazy, is touching and yet raises questions. Does Charlie really see Sam, or is the town correct in thinking he is suffering from hallucinations brought on by grief?

Charlie himself has been brought back from the dead by the efforts of the EMT, and does this give him some connection that others don’t have? Does Charlie have a special purpose in this life, since he has been given a second chance?

Charlie St. Cloud is presented on single disc with a running time of 1 hour and 40 minutes. Special features included with the disc provide more information and insights into the film.

First are deleted scenes with optional commentary by Director Burr Steers. Zac Efron Leading Man, looks at the actors preparation and motivation as he plays Charlie St. Cloud, leaving his High School Musical days far behind.

On Location with Zac Efron is like a mini tour of the geography of the film, gorgeous costal scenery and boats. The In Between World takes viewers through an analysis of the existence of ghosts or spirits and how some people seem to have the ability to communicate with them and why this might be possible. There is a feature commentary with Director Burr Steers.