A Coming-of-Age Film Every Teen Should See: ‘What Rhymes with Reason’

The film follows six teens into the Oklahoma wilderness, as they search for a legendary landmark. Reckless Abandonment Pictures

Coming-of-age movies are always popular with young people; but these days, growing up while being bombarded with social media has taken teen angst to another level. So much so, that in the past few years, teen suicide has skyrocketed to be the No. 2 cause of death for children between 10 and 18.

That said, a new movie hopes to address the problem by getting a message out to young people facing emotional problems: You’re not alone.

The film “What Rhymes with Reason” is a labor of love for Kyle Roberts, an Emmy Award-winning director based in Oklahoma who has produced content for Nickelodeon and Dreamworks. He’s worked on the script for the past six years, and now the finished project will hit theaters for one night on October 10, which happens to be World Mental Health Day.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRnb01f6j8A[/embed]

Mr. Roberts, who produces projects for his company Reckless Abandonment Pictures, hopes this film will resonate with young people who might be dealing with any number of issues.

“We need a film that is family-friendly and tackles these things together.” He cited social media’s effect on teens who are inundated with comparisons.

“They’re comparing themselves to their friends, their peers, people who they think are celebrities ... it’s timeless, but it’s magnified today more than ever. There’s got to be a better way in a family-friendly manner to tackle this subject.”

Emmy award-winning director Kyle Roberts (C) hopes the film will resonate with young people. Reckless Abandonment Pictures

The film is a rare one in that it’s both entertaining and has an important message. After a terrible tragedy, Jesse (played by Gattlin Griffith) leads five teenagers on what is basically a treasure hunt in the wilderness after he discovers a poem and a unique compass left to him by his father. It’s an old-fashioned adventure as they discover clues along the way while learning more about themselves.

The treasure isn’t a pot of gold or anything of monetary value, but something priceless: a revelation of how we should treat others while dealing with our own personal issues. Walls break down between some of the teens as they learn to open up and rely on one another during a journey that is both physical and emotional.

While the movie falls into the Christian genre, it’s never preachy, getting its message across through the actions of the characters and not so much the dialogue. The film uses the “show, don’t tell” concept to make its point. Eyes being the windows of the soul, the actors convey so much with a simple look. The characters evolve throughout the course of the film, as they navigate the emotional obstacles young people often face. They learn there are always shoulders to lean on and there’s no need to face adversity by yourself.

These young actors weren’t simply reading their lines and hitting their marks; the story affected them personally. Mr. Roberts noticed they bonded during the production of the movie.

“I could feel how much they loved each other and cared about the content.”

In a world where young people are obsessed with social media, perhaps the most telling quote comes from actor Ricardo Hurtado, who plays Billy in the film. He knows the online world where so many teens live isn’t the real one, and people shouldn’t put any stock in what is said on the internet.

“Our identity should never be attached to a social following. We are loved by more than our likes; we have a God that loves us unconditionally.”

Gattlin Griffith, in his first leading role, talked about the influence this film can have.

“This story is important, and I’m honored to breathe life into it. The darkness is in all of us, but does not have to define us.”

Mr. Roberts has two wishes for “What Rhymes with Reason”: that the movie will make an impression on young people, and a major film distribution company will take notice.

Jesse (played by Gattlin Griffith) (C) leads five teens on a treasure hunt into the wilderness after discovering a poem and a compass left to him by his father. Reckless Abandonment Pictures

As for the title, he says: “Basically, it’s a kind of a poetic way to ask an age-old question, what is the rhyme and reason that we’re here on this earth? What is our identity and what is our purpose? It’s a coming-of-age story about identity and purpose. That God has a plan for our life, and whether we understand it or not, it has its own purpose.”

The movie won its local film festival and Mr. Roberts was contacted by Fathom Events, a company that coordinates national releases as a one-day experience. He’s also partnering with 988Lifeline.org, which runs a 24-hour suicide and crisis helpline involving more than 250 crisis centers.

He hopes parents will accompany their children to the theater, and he feels teens will relate to the message and the characters in the movie.

“When you see other youths hurting on screen, in a film that shows hope, that resonates with them. When they see this with their parents, they realize, I’m not alone, there is hope, and they can have these conversations with their parents.” There will also be a QR code at the end of the film that will take them to a page of resources.

Mr. Roberts has more coming-of-age stories slated for the future. For now, he simply hopes his film will catch on and make a difference.

“We have a real chance of helping a lot of people and saving some lives.”

If the director ever wondered why he’s on this earth, this movie might be the reason.

Tickets are available through Fathom Events.

Update: The film is also now available on all major digital retailers such as Amazon Prime starting Feb. 6, 2024.