i grow up with this movie and i enjoy it so much . i watch it every week of my childhood . i wasn not really one of those kid who get pick on and i just think angus be a true ( real life ) hero and i look up to him . there isn not too many one dimensional character in this film . everyone have feeling and the movie do a great job of show their feeling . i have not read the short story and but if it anything like this movie it will be great . like all teen movie it have a strong message that be spell out for everyone . unlike other teen movie this one seem to show everyone side of high school life and even though the two main character be outcast theyre not really nerd . they both play on the football team and one of them be really good . you do not really expect that from loser . the whole movie have great gag that everyone can enjoy and theyre really funny . charlie talbert play angus bethune ( great name and right . ) his best friend troy wedberg be play by chris owen ( can not hardly wait ) and he be just hysterical throughout the whole movie . george c. scott ( patton ) play angus grandfather that be always fall asleep and he play the role of dad to angus give him advice . kathy bates ( misery ) do a great job a angus mother and kathy bates be just a great actor . then we have james van der beek ( varsity blue ) play the bully and he do do a great job at it and ariana richards ( jurassic park ) play melissa lefevre which angus have a crush on . overall i recommend this movie to anyone that like teen movie such a the breakfast club and can not hardly wait and and sixteen candle . as longs a you go to public high school this film can not get old .