WHIZ KIDS is a coming-of-age story that follows three high school seniors from diverse backgrounds as they prepare for the nation's most prestigious science competition. These passionate, highly ambitious students embark on an unpredictable journey of discovery where they must overcome scientific and personal challenges in order to fulfill their dreams. Forging their path as the next generation of scientists, the teens learn as much about themselves as they do about science.
Though the film seems less like a theatrical release and more like something that might play on an obscure PBS station at 2 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon, it's reasonably interesting as a personality study.
Dwelling as much on setbacks and hurdles as on the glitter of competition, this quietly absorbing film is finally more about character formation -- curiosity, persistence, endurance -- than about achievement as a means to some extrinsic social end.
Harmain is one of three students that filmmaker Tom Shepherd focuses on. Their youthful enthusiasm, and impressive enterprise and intelligence are downright inspiring.
"Spellbound" taken to far greater heights. A touching and honest portrayal of the fight to be the best in the least glitzy business in America---science.
All three kids are disarmingly charming and ambitious, which means that the directors don't have to work very hard to get you rooting for them to succeed.
Whiz Kids keeps you in suspense about who'll take home the $100,000 prize, but it's clear that all these kids know how to apply the American credo of equal opportunity to the notion of competition. And win.
An eager-to-please documentary about teenage science experts, Whiz Kids mostly avoids the dark side of life, though its innocence is somewhat refreshing.
Inside look at the Intel competition celebrates the U.S. is still an intellectual meritocracy where smart kids in public schools can work hard, excel and gain recognition.
Shepard has chosen compelling characters and developed moving drama, and one can't help but both be awed by these teenagers and just want to give them a hug.
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