Babyteeth – A Guttpunch Teen Drama (Early Review)

HBO’s Sharp Objects was certainly a coming out party for actress Eliza Scanlen, eventually leading to a role in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women. However, Babyteeth should be what really puts her on the map. This Australian feature is a different take on the lease on life story that goes about the subgenre with grace, levity, and plenty of heartbreak in a true roller coaster fashion. Sure, the film could have gone about it a little quicker as it could have been at least 10 to 15 minutes shorter but that’s merely a minor complaint. While one of the film’s best aspects was its level of authenticity, it also strays whenever it traverses beyond its compelling and very relatable central story. That story is definitely a heavy one to say the least, tackling such issues as terminal illness, drug addiction, mental illness, and forbidden romance in a grounded way while straddling that fine line with relative ease without ever imploding within itself.

Babyteeth follows a teen girl named Milla (Scanlen) who also suffers from an undefined cancer and one who had pretty much given up on life. However, this arguably began to change after a chance encounter with an older drug dealer named Moses (Wallace) as he gave her a new lease on life. Being burdened by her condition for so long, he reminded her what it was like to live. Meanwhile, Milla began to fall in love with him because he saw her as more than just her condition and he was a way for her to be somewhat normal (and/or reminded her of the person she used to be). She definitely did not appreciate anyone dancing around her condition. On paper, it wouldn’t seem like Milla and Moses would ever be together in any sort of relationship but the film did not dwell too much about that as in the end, this was more or less a perfect storm for each of them. However, Moses was not entering this relationship without any ulterior motives of his own as a result of being evicted by his mother and fending for himself on the street. Milla’s father, a psychiatrist named Henry (Mendelsohn), just happened to have access to drugs.

Like it or not, that connection between Milla and Moses could not be ignored, much to the chagrin of Milla’s parents who clearly did not approve of their relationship (however it may be) with the age difference being their biggest concern. He arguably may not have been the best influence on her but nevertheless she responded to him in a way both Henry and her mother Anna (Essie Davis) couldn’t match. At the end of the day, though Milla had cancer, she was still a teen and acted like any semi-normal teen would. It was quite an adventure to watch as she lived out her youth like a normal teen, seemingly making up for lost time and almost forgetting she had cancer while essentially we as viewers did the same. Babyteeth as a whole was a visual treat with great cinematography featuring sequences sunbathed in hallucinogenic colors (contrasting the bleakness of Milla’s condition) meanwhile a soundtrack eliciting similar feelings helped set the mood nicely. Despite getting to live out some semblance of youth, Milla would eventually have to come back to Earth and no one will be ready for that onrush of emotions.

While Babyteeth may move away from Milla towards other subplots with other secondary characters, the film was at its best when it stayed with Milla. Scanlen’s lead performance as Milla was undoubtedly the best part of the film. Her likability, relatability, and range sold Milla’s complicated character arc, showing equal amounts of innocent youthfulness and vulnerability while absolutely commanding the screen. Wallace’s sheer charisma and grace elevated Moses beyond caricature territory to someone more human. Meanwhile, their solid chemistry between the two made them fun to watch. Rounding things out were the moving performances from Davis and Mendelsohn as Anna and Henry, Milla’s parents. Their warmth and inviting nature will make viewers want them to be their parents.

In the end, Babyteeth is one of the best teen dramas in recent memory and is definitely worth checking out if only for those feeling the summer blues.

*still courtesy of IFC Films*

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.