It's a Trap!: My Adventures at Central PA HOBY

     In retrospect, my junior year of high school, simply put, has been an unbelievable and outstanding experience.  I successfully started a Key Club at my high school, survived taking multiple AP classes, and most importantly, inspired the students at my school to take action in their communities and make a difference.  Despite these accomplishments and achievements, or perhaps because of them, I became burned out.  In my desire to advance my educational experience and make an impact in my school and community, I lost my lust for life in the process.  Instead of eagerly waking up each morning with great enthusiasm, I became a “drifter”.  I just drifted through life, just lived from day to day, without any real passion or excitement.  Living life just was not as exciting as it used to be; it almost seemed like a chore now.  The past year had burned me out, and I was done with being enthusiastic and working to make a difference.  Fortunately, HOBY was there, like it always is, ready to make a change.


     This year, I was the recipient of a special and rare opportunity that few HOBY Alumni are able to participate in: attending a Hugh O’ Brian Youth (“HOBY”) Leadership Seminar outside of one’s home state.  My heart will always belong to HOBY Maryland (“MD”), but when I received word of an opportunity to attend an Alumni Reunion at the Central Pennsylvania (“PA”) Seminar, I jumped at the chance to attend. I was excited by the idea of attending a HOBY Seminar in another state, and comparing it with my HOBY MD experience.

     Mixed in with these feelings of excitement and anticipation were feelings of nervousness, and yes, even fear.  I must say that I was a little apprehensive about attending a HOBY Seminar outside my home state.  All of the Seminar staff and the Team Alumni (“TA”) (Former ambassadors who return to HOBY to serve as junior staff) have already bonded through their seminar and are well acquainted with one another, where as I would be an outsider.  It may seem a bit silly in retrospect, but I was afraid that I would not “fit in” at this seminar- and that I would be an outcast.  As I soon learned, there is no such thing as outsiders and outcasts in the HOBY family, and the two day reunion completely re-energized me and filled me with a zeal for life that I had not felt in a long time.

     Through my dear friend Matt Hockney, who served on the Central PA HOBY staff, Jordan Coyne, Lorena Smith, Ben Allen (All HOBY MD alumni) and I were invited to attend the Central PA HOBY alumni reunion.  Their reunion is unique, in that it takes place during the actual HOBY Seminar, is open to HOBY Alumni from all HOBY Seminars across the country, and features team-building activities and guest speakers, making it remarkably similar to the standard HOBY experience.  My friends and I would be spending the next two days with the Central PA TA, helping out at a service project, leading the ambassadors in cheers, and participating in team-building and leadership activities.  It wasn’t just a time for Alumni to get together and connect; it was going to be a mini- HOBY Seminar, an amazingly ingenious concept.

     So we packed up our belongings and headed to the Central PA reunion, having no idea what we the next two days would be like.  The minute we stepped foot onto the campus, we were greeted by the Central PA Team Alumni with a question, “How do you feel?!?!??!?!”  Well this was new.  We all nervously looked at each other, and since it was HOBY, answered in reply “OUTSTANDING!”.  This was the wrong answer, as the Team Alumni enthusiastically responded by saying “SURVEY SAYS??? EHHHHHH!”  Well, if we didn’t feel awkward and out of place before, we definitely did now.  However these feelings of awkwardness and discomfort quickly melted away, when we were fully introduced to and completely embraced by the Central PA HOBY TA.  They welcomed us into their group, and from the way we acted with one another, it seemed like we had been friends for years.

Showing us how to Wiggalo

     After introductions, we were joined by the other alumni reunion participants (former Central PA HOBY ambassadors) and began our service project.  Along with the TA and several staff members, we walked to a local senior citizens’ center, where we were to spend our afternoon spending quality time with the residents, many of whom receive very few visitors.  I thought we would sit with down with the residents, listen to them tell us stories, politely eat lunch with them, and then be on our way.  Nope.  In complete contrast to my expectations, we spent the next four hours cheering, serenading, dancing, and sharing our love and enthusiasm of HOBY with the residents.

Shower Ensemble's Debut Performance

     Easily my favorite part of the entire reunion happened during this visit to the senior center.  Before I begin this story, a little background history is required.  At the Central PA 2010 Seminar, four brave and valiant young gentlemen began to sing in the shower…together.  They decided to share their collective singing talent with the staff by forming an all-male singing group, appropriately named the “Shower Quartet”.  This year, in an effort to expand the group, they held tryouts for all the male TA.  Since they could not narrow down their selection, all the male TA were added to the group, which was re-named the “Shower Ensemble”, in reference to the addition of the new members.  My HOBY MD friend/counterpart Ben and I were made honorary members, which is one of the greatest honors ever bestowed on me.

The full Shower Ensemble

     To entertain the residents, we decided to put on a mini-concert of some of the greatest love songs of all time.  One would think that a singing group made up of teenage males would produce sub-par music, but in reality, it was the most beautiful music I have heard in my entire life.  It was as if a chorus of angels had descended from heaven to sing in the center that day.  We performed four hit songs for the residents, including our amazing rendition of “My Girl” (including a four-part harmony), and I can honestly say it was an amazingly fulfilling experience.  As we sang “My Girl”, each member of the “Shower Ensemble” split off and sang to a different lady in the room.  I held an elderly woman’s hand, and as I was singing the chorus the song, I looked straight into her eyes, and I saw tears begin to form.  Right there, in that moment, I realized why we went to the center that day, and the reason and purpose for all out “shenanigans”.  Even though we were being very goofy and playful, we were spending quality time with these residents, who very rarely received this kind of attention.  We were having fun, but making a difference in the lives of these people at the same time.  This had a profound impact on me.  I had always treated community service as a very serious venture, something to be held in high regard, and not taken lightly.  It had never dawned on me that one could have so much fun while serving one’s community.  In that one instant, that one fleeting moment of time, I realized that one doesn’t have to organize large, massive service projects in order to make a difference.  It can be as simple as singing to an elderly lady.  Singing to those residents was one of the highlights of my life, and I won’t soon forget it.

     As we made our way back from the senior center, I was very enthusiastic and filled with excitement for the rest of the day, as all the cheering, singing, and dancing had energized me.  Did I mention cheering?  If there’s anything that the people at Central PA HOBY do well, it is cheering.  There is a cheer for every situation, and the staff of Central PA HOBY, especially the TA, never miss an opportunity.  I learned close to ten different cheers and energizers over the course of two days.  Some highlights include “Wiggalo”, “Outstanding”, “Survey Says”, and my new favorite, “The HOBY Pony”.  In fact, the main job of the Central PA TA is to lead cheers, and they do an outstanding job.  Any time the ambassadors are moving to another place or transitioning between activities, the TA are leading cheers.  Whether it is by “dotting the path” and stationing themselves in strategic areas, enthusiastically cheering as the ambassadors walk by, or leading them within the seminar itself, there is never “down time” at Central PA HOBY.  It’s always cheering time.

     The rest of the reunion continued to be an amazing, unforgettable experience.  We spent most of the rest of the day cheering (not an exaggeration), hanging out, and participating in team building activities.  At the dance later that evening, I ignored any self-deprecation I had about my dancing and completely unleashed myself on the dance floor.  I sweated through my shirt and couldn’t hear anything afterward, but it was well worth it.  After we cleaned up and changed for the evening, all of the staff sat together and reflected on their lives in HOBY.  It was a fantastic experience for me- seeing these people that have been volunteering with HOBY for well over fifteen years, and to see them still filled with the same enthusiasm that they had as ambassadors.  All of the adult staff at Central PA HOBY were very welcoming and accepting of the HOBY MD alumni, and I learned a lot from them about leadership and organization.

     Despite getting only two hours of sleep that night, I awoke the next day with even more enthusiasm than I had the day before.  I could not remember a time when I was this exuberant and spirited, and I was eagerly anticipating the day’s activities.  We walked through Millersville, PA to a beautiful park where we ate a delicious picnic lunch, and just enjoyed each other’s company.  I spent a lot of time talking to the staff about HOBY, and it was very beneficial for me to be able to compare the two seminars, which I can use to my advantage when I one day (hopefully) become Seminar Chair for a HOBY.  The picnic was an outstanding experience, as I helped put on a hilarious impromptu skit about “The HOBY Rules” built a human machine to create potions, and rode ”The HOBY Pony” with the ambassadors back on campus, which is the greatest cheer ever created by man.  It was an outstanding end to a perfect day.

     Unfortunately all good things must come to an end, and so did the reunion.  I was not expecting to be so impacted by my experiences over the previous few days, but they had a made a difference in my life, which made saying goodbye difficult.  Our new family said goodbye in the best way possible, with a cheer:

     “Hey Central PA HOBY, what do we think of HOBY MD?!?!?!?  OUTSTANDING!!!  O-U-T, S-T-A-N-D, I-N-G, OUT OUT OUTSTANDING!  O-U-T, S-T-A-N-D, I-N-G, OUT OUT OUTSTANDING!” (I’m going to be honest, I got teary-eyed after that).

The HOBY MD Alumni

     The Central PA HOBY alumni reunion was one of many life-changing experiences I’ve had because of my association with the Hugh O’ Brian Youth Leadership Foundation.  It came at just the right time in my life.  Life had burned me out, and I was in desperate need of a re-charge.  Even though I was only with these people for two days, I became very close to them, and I consider them part of my HOBY family.  Not only did I become filled with a zeal for life that I had not felt in a long time, but I was able to experience a different HOBY Seminar, which is an experience I recommend to any HOBY Alumnus who is serious about becoming staff for a HOBY Seminar someday.

The HOBY MD Alumni with the TA.  Yeah, my eyes are closed...

     If I had to sum up the Central PA alumni reunion in just three words, it would definitely have to be “It’s a trap”.  The people there really “trap” you in their love, kindness, and especially enthusiasm, and it’s so ensnaring that one doesn’t want to leave.  I am so thankful for the amazing opportunity that I was gifted with.  More important than anything that happened to me at that reunion, I got to help make a difference in the lives of over 240 high school sophomores, which is all the “re-charge” I need.  It was a remarkable and truly touching experience that made a big difference in my life, and I am not only a stronger and more effective leader because of it, but a more confident and fun-loving person.  So what did I think of the HOBY Central PA Alumni Reunion?  Simply put, it was OUTSTANDING.

Rainbow over the HOBY Seminar

Key Club Convention: Day 3

     After what seemed like simultaneously five seconds and a life time, Capital District Convention had come to an end.  I was so sad for it to end, but also excited to go back home and re-energize my Key Club about everything that I had learned.  I didn't think Convention could get anymore emotional than it had the past two days.  I was wrong.
     The only real event of the day was the closing ceremony, and I couldn't have imagined a better one if I tried.  Though I was really excited, I was also really nervous.  The past few days had been amazing, as I had great workshops and events, and made a ton of great friends.  But the reality slowly dawned on me that I would have to do all this next year.  I was going to be representing my Division on the Key Club District Board.  I would have to help plan Convention, present workshops, and speak on stage before hundreds of Key Clubbers.  I honestly thought to myself, "What am I doing here?  I've only been in Key Club one year, how am I supposed to do any of this?"  I still don't think I have any idea what I'm doing, but I'm ready to face the challenges the Board brings me, and face them head on.  Bring it Key Club Board
     Watching the Key Club closing ceremony was one of the most emotional experiences of my life, and I didn't even know any of the people in the presentation.  As I watched the District Governor give a speech about what Key Club means to her, and all that she has accomplished in the last year, I couldn't help but think of my own experience with Key Club.
     It's hard to believe that it's been less than a year since I started Key Club, but it has.  During the speech, I flashbacked to my very first meeting, which a whopping SIX people attended.  Now the club is hovering around 60 people, and the members are beginning to take initiative and design and lead their own service projects.  I never thought Key Club would take off so fast and grow so rapidly in such a short time, but it has been the highlight of my life.  People are beginning to discover all the joy that can be found in service, and I couldn't be happier.  While it is true Key Club wouldn't be at my school if I hadn't started it, it wouldn't be around without all the wonderful people who have helped it to grow this past year.  Teachers, officers, and just regular students who wanted to give this crazy thing called "Key Club" a try, you have all helped make Key Club what it is.  Thank you.
     After she finished her speech, it was time for the new Board members to be inducted.  I walked up on stage with my fellow Lt. Governors and the newly elected Board Officers, I realized something: I was even more nervous than I was before.  These people looked like they had it all together.  What the heck was I doing up there?  Then I realized, that at least some of these kids were just as overwhelmed as I was.  Most of us were first time Board members as well, and didn't have a clue about what we were supposed to do.  But I could tell that they were all as excited as I was.  We had already begun to bond as a family, and we all loved Key Club and wanted to make it better.  These were the kind of people I was glad to surround myself with.  I can't wait to begin working with the Board, and I can tell it's going to be a great year!
     So the final verdict: was Key Club Convention any good?  Simply put, it was amazing.  I got like 30 Facebook friends, learned a lot about Key Club, and got fired up for Convention 2012.  But something happened that I didn't entirely expect, something more important than me getting excited about being LTG and Key Club and what not.  I noticed something different in my fellow Key Club members, the ones that came with me from my school.  They had a new excitement about Key Club that they didn't have before.  I knew that I was going to love Convention and have a great time, but I wasn't sure if the other members I took with me would.  Unsurprisingly, they had a great time, and were really inspired to make our Key Club better. One of the people that went, a non-officer, was inspired to run for Office next year and begin her own projects.  This is what I wanted all along, and I am so very proud of her.
     So was Key Club Convention worth it?  Very.  I fell in love with Key Club all over again, and I'm ready to take our relationship to the next level.  Capital District Convention 2012 is going to be the best it's ever been, and I hope to use my position as Lt. Governor to inspire people to serve their communities and make lasting impact, whether they are in Key Club or not.  Thanks Key Club for a great year, here's hoping knowing that the next year is going to be even better!
    

Key Club Convention: Day 2

     I do not even know where to begin.  Capital District Key Club Convention Day 2 reminded me of why I love Key Club, and why I consider myself fortunate to be a part of it.  Workshops, sessions, awards, and dances re-energized my fellow Key Clubbers and I, and filled us with a new passion for service.
     The morning began with an introduction from a member of every section of the Kiwanis Family: from K-Kids all the way to Kiwanis.  The cute little 5th grade President of his K-Kid Club, and the 8th grade President of her school's Builders Club, touched my heart in ways I did not expect.  These kids had such a passion for service that I did not possess at their age.  I am thankful to know that there will be citizens like these kids to lead Key Club into a greater and brighter future, after most of us have graduated.
      My fellow Key Clubbers and I attended 3 workshops yesterday.  The first was about Kiwanis' ELIMINATE Project, and it was as informative as it was inspiring.  Kiwanis International is taking on a new international challenge: to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus from the face of the earth. Tetanus is a completely curable disease that affects mothers in lesser-developed nations.  Toxic spores from the Earth infect the mother at birth, and it causes a slow and painful death of her child.  This can all be prevented by 3 vaccinations of the mother during her reproductive years, which costs 60 cents per vaccination.  Kiwanis is seeking to raise 110 million dollars to save the lives of over 129 million people by 2015.  Seeing Kiwanis International taking on such a massive endeavour was very inspiring, and makes me want to help with this project in anyway I can.  I will be sure to use my Lt. Governor position to promote ELIMINATE in any way possible.
     I attended a workshop about Club Excellence, where I learned about to grow my Key Club and make it more effective in service.  Excellently presented by two Lt. Governors, it really provided me with several tips to make my club better.
     Later in the evening, we attended a banquet with a delicious meal and amazing entertainment (Tony Choi FTW), that further showed me how diverse Key Clubbers are.  Though all of us love community service and love Key Club, we are also a multi-faceted, diverse group of people, united by our desire to change the world through service.
     The entire evening was just perfect.  As all the clubs were presented with awards for excellence in service, I couldn't help but think to my very first Key Club meeting, which six people attended.  All these clubs had once been brand new, and they were now doing great things for their communities and even the world.  Showing that size didn't matter, the Key Club of year only had fourteen members.  That might have been the most profound revelation, at least for me, of the entire weekend.  I have poured so much energy and time into increasing membership, which is important, that I have lost sight of the actual point of Key Club: service.  It's not quantity that matters, but quality.  If clubs spend too much time focusing on membership, then the most important aspect of Key Club, our entire reason for existence, service, is lost.
     The second day of Key Club Convention was the perfect continuation of an already amazing weekend.  I met amazing new people, pissed people off by pushing all the buttons on the elevator, and felt closer to my Key Club family than ever before.  Great day.
  

Key Club Convention: Day 1

     "I pledge on my honor to uphold the objects of Key Club International; to build my home school and community; to serve my nation and God and to combat all forces which tend to undermine these institutions." - Key Club Pledge

      With these timeless words, The 62nd Annual Capital District Convention commenced, to a crowd of 800 Key Club members from all over Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.  Groups screaming, cheering, and literally running around the room, the enthusiasm was very contagious.  As a first year Key Clubber and a first time attendee of DCON, I already feel energized with a new passion for Key Club.
     I was very fortunate to be able to attend Key Club Convention with seven other people from my school; an impressive feat for a Key Club that has been official for less than two weeks.  The first thing I noticed upon arrival was just how expansive Key Club really is.  Being in a brand new Key Club governed by a less-than-active Lt. Governor, I used to have a very isolated view of Key Club.  Key Club was only something that North County did.  Other schools had it, but all their activities were separate of ours.  But there are just so many people here.  My fellow Key Clubbers and I have already made several new friends today, and the number of new friends will only continue to grow as the weekend goes on.
     The first evening's festivities were eventful but short, highlighted by a dance and the keynote speaker, Craig Melvin.  Craig Melvin is a former Key Club International President, and currently works in D.C. as a broadcast news reporter.  His articulate and inspiring speech energized the crowd, and challenged the audience to make an impact in the world.
     I can feel the energy of the Convention infecting my Key Club members.  After only one day they are already determined to increase their service and increase the impact of North County High School Key Club.   The group is beginning to bond as a family unit, and I know they will carry that with them to Key Club back home.
     Our club has certainly been challenged.  Even though having nine members attend for a brand new Key Club is certainly impressive, our club has quite a long way to go.  Several Divisions have over 100 members in attendance, while Division 14 (Anne Arundel County) had 21.  As the Lt. Governor for Division 14, I vow to do everything I can to improve the communication and cooperation within our clubs, and make Division 14 a recognized and accredited Key Club.
     The Zone Administrator for Division 14 has two other districts in his zone.  One of these Divisions has 107 people in attendance.  Division 14 has been challenged with having 108 people attend DCON next year.  That is about 11 members per club.  I believe we can do it, and I am am going to work hard to ensure that this goal is met.
Day 2 is fast approaching, and I have realized that I am getting next to no sleep this weekend.  Stop by tomorrow for my recap of Day 2's events.

Conviction Review

Director: Tony Goldwyn (Ghost, Tarzan)
Screenplay: Pamela Gray
Starring: Hilary Swank (Boys Don't Cry, Million Dollar Baby), Sam Rockwell (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Iron Man 2), Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting), Melissa Leo (The Fighter), and Peter Gallagher (The O.C., Covert Affairs)  
Gross Revenue: $6,783,129
Rotten Tomatoes TomatoMeter: 6%
IMDB Rating: 7.2
     Most would say movies are made for entertainment purposes.  Some would say that movies are made to make a profit.  There are even some movies, that are made for the soul purpose of winning awards.  Conviction is one of these films.  All those involved, the actors, director, producers, made this movie in the hopes of winning some serious Oscar gold.  However, as is often the case in these types of pictures, Conviction tries to hard to tell an inspirational story of hard work, family, and love, in the hopes of winning awards for its participants.

     Conviction spans a period of nearly 20 years, featuring the tale of one woman's quest to liberate her brother from prison.  Kenny Waters (Sam Rockwell) is sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of Katharina Brow.  He claims to be innocent and his younger sister, Betty Anne Waters (Hilary Swank), believes him.  Driven by her love of her older brother, Betty Anne dedicates her life to freeing herself from prison.  She works her way through college, earns her B.A., and finally law school, in order to become a full-fledged attorney so that she can prove her brother's innocence.

     Conviction had all the makings of an "Oscar movie".  Starring a two-time Academy Award winner portraying a real-life woman overcoming adversity in an inspirational film is the recipe for an Oscar smash.  However, one thing the filmmakers forget to do was made the movie good enough to win an Oscar.  Don't get me wrong, the movie is perfectly acceptable.  The story is fairly inspirational, and middle-aged woman will probably proclaim it as the best movie of the year.  But for me, the movie is severely lacking in pathos.  It's as if the filmmakers are trying to force the audience to empathize with the characters in the film.  All the emotion in the movie feels very forced, not at all natural.

     The movie bounces between time periods, in order to tell the backstory of the two main characters.  It will jump from flashback, to present, to another flashback, back to another time before the present, and back to another flashback, for no particular reason.  All the time jumping distracts from the emotional impact of the story, and is just annoying.  The movie is a poor blend of an inspirational film and a legal courtroom drama.  The legal proceedings are boring and pedantic, and slows the pace of the movie, and takes time away from the far more interesting part of the movie, Betty Anne's journey to becoming a lawyer, and Kenny's stint in jail.  Bouncing between the two makes both parts suffer, and makes the movie uninteresting and uninspiring.
     The best part of the film is definitely the acting.  Hilary Swank tries a bit too hard to play a burdened, overworked woman, but Sam Rockwell steals the show as the tempermental, bitter Kenny Waters.  He refuses to "soften" Kenny to make him more likable and appealing.  He plays him like a real person, with layers and flaws just like the rest of us.  He makes the movie better every time he is on screen.
     So Conviction wasn't bad.  It was interesting to learn about a woman who went through so much in order to free her brother.  I just wish I knew more about her.  The movie gets so bogged down in legal proceedings and exposition, that more important things, such as character development, are short shifted. Conviction is an acceptable inspirational legal drama, bolstered by a strong performance by Sam Rockwell, but is too manipulative and emotionless to warrant must-see viewing.  3/5.

The Outsiders Review

Director: Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now)     
Screenplay: Kathleen Rowell
Starring: C. Thomas Howell (Red Dawn, The Hitcher), Matt Dillon (There's Something About Mary, Crash), Ralph Macchio (The Karate Kid, My Cousin Vinny), Patrick Swayze (Dirty Dancing, Ghost), Rob Lowe (The West Wing, Brothers and Sisters), Diane Lane (Unfaithful), Emilio Estevez (The Breakfast Club, The Mighty Ducks), and Tom Cruise (Risky Business, Mission Impossible)
Gross revenue: $25,697,647
Rotten Tomatoes TomatoMeter: 66%
IMDB Rating: 7/10

     The 1980’s were a time like no other.  While many people try not to remember their time in the 80’s (mostly due to wardrobe choices), no other decade has produced such a stellar track record of teenage-related films.  Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club, St. Elmo’s Fire are all exemplary examples of films that truly capture perhaps the most tumultuous and complicated time period in a person’s life: the teenage years.  No other time period causes such confusion, angst, and troubles in a person’s life, and no other decade has more realistic examples of what teenagers are really like than the 1980’s.  By any indication, The Outsiders should join the ranks of these great films in their nuanced portrayal of adolescence.  Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the mastermind behind The Godfather trilogy, and starring a plethora of some of the 1980’s most famous child actors, many members of the famed “Brat Pack”, and features a timeless story of a boy coming-of-age in confusing world.  Unfortunately, The Outsiders falls short of these films and fails to present a coherent coming-of-age story and social commentary on the dangers of class division and gang warfare, and is instead an unintentionally comical farce with a muddled storyline, one-note characters, and uneven direction.
     The Outsiders takes place during the 1960’s, and features the conflict between two social groups: the “Greasers”, poor kids who are notorious for their greasy hair, and the “Socs” rich kids who drive Mustangs and always wear khakis.  It is never explained why these groups hate each other so much, but this is insignificant, all that is important is that these two groups are constantly at odds, often to the point of violence.  The film stars C. Thomas Howell as Ponyboy Curtis, a Greaser with a heart of gold and prefers reading and watching movies to fighting in brawls.  He lives with his two older brothers: Darrel (Patrick Swayze) and Soda-Pop (Rob Lowe), and tensions in the family run high as Darrel and Ponyboy are always fighting, with Soda-Pop caught in the middle.  After Ponyboy’s friend and fellow Greaser Johnny (Ralph Macchio) kills a Soc after a rough fight, they flee town with the help of their friend Dallas (Matt Dillon), and inadvertently start a course of events that will change both of their lives forever.
     The movie strives for two things: to tell the coming-of-age story of Ponyboy Curtis as his world around him begins to fall apart, and provide a social commentary on the dangers of class division and gang warfare.  It fails on both parts, mostly due to the muddled screenplay and uneven direction.  Francis Ford Coppola is never able to find the balance between telling Ponyboy’s story and the story of the gang war.  As a result, both stories are shortchanged and underdeveloped.  Ponyboy’s journey to manhood is triggered by a traumatic event, but never given explanation or analysis beyond that, as the movie then returns to focus on the conflict between the Greasers and the Socs.  The Greasers and Socs are both one-dimensional characters, who have no motivation for fighting each other besides the fun and thrill of it.  Instead of providing a commentary on the problems caused by gang warfare, the movie instead finds it more important to show a five-minute brawl, with no consequences other than injuries to the characters’ faces.  An important lesson to be learned: when somebody gets punched in the face, it hurts.
     Some may argue that the character of Dallas is a complex and layered character, who is portrayed as the “good guy” despite the terrible actions he commits during the movie, with deep and hidden reasons for these actions. Dallas is little more than a thug with no compassion outside his inner circle of friends, and any attempts at revealing layers to this character are stifled by Coppola’s poor direction and desire to focus the story elsewhere.  The inherent problem with ensemble casts is that many characters often are underdeveloped and lack emotional depth; unfortunately, all of the characters in the movie are this way, which makes for a rather boring movie.
     What makes these shortcomings even worse is that the movie began quite well and enjoyably.  There was a fine balance between the “coming-of-age” story, and the “gang warfare” story.  However, after a certain church scene, the movie bounces around from scene to scene with very little cohesiveness.  It’s as If the director was not even reading the script while editing; he just spliced scenes together in any random order.
     Supporters  argue that the film is cheesy because it was made in the 1980’s, and that therefore gives it an “excuse” to be cheesy.  This is incorrect as many movies made in the 1980’s, such as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, are still as touching and relevant today as they were nearly 20 years ago.  Not just the wardrobe and the dialogue (it is a period piece so it is excused from this), but the acting is just overly dramatic and cheesy.  Most of the actors here are very young with very little experience portraying a range of emotions, and their stunted efforts are a hallmark of this film.
      Despite early promises and impressive pedigree surrounding this film, The Outsiders ultimately falls short.  It is neither a poignant coming-of-age tale nor a social commentary on the nature of teenage gang warfare.  Instead, it is a muddled jumble of one-dimensional characters, underdeveloped plotlines, and overdramatic acting, due to its unfocused script and haphazard direction.  The Outsiders’ muddled screenplay and uneven direction result in a film that should have been a classic in teen angst, but instead is underdeveloped, overdramatic, and unfocused.  It should have been better.  2.5/5.
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