This film surprised me when I saw it because based on the previews I saw, I was expecting a regular comedy.  However, this film is most definitely a drama with lots of intelligent humor throughout.  Much of the humor is derived not so much in what the characters say, but more how they say it and the facial expressions and body language they display.  I was most happy in seeing that this was a film that was done serious and realistic rather than a TV sitcom type of comedy.

      The story begins when we find Oscar aboard a train with his best friend Charlie, both who are coming home from prep school for the Thanksgiving holiday.  It's apparent from the get-go that Oscar believes that girls his age are way too girlish and immature for him.  Oscar is one of those intelligent but pretentious fifteen year olds who listen to classical music and reads Voltaire instead of listening to pop music and reading sports magazines.  However, he shocks Charlie when Oscar tells him that he is fact in love with someone, even though she does not know it yet.

      We soon find out that the woman that Oscar is in love with is Eve, who just happens to be his father's current wife and Oscar's step-mother.  Oscar spends much of his time home trying to impress Eve with things that he finds out she has at some point in her life has really liked.  But things really start to unravel for Oscar when a friend of Eve ends up sleeping with Oscar and tells her female friends what she had done as if it was just another romp.  Oscar frantically tries to keep what happened away from both Eve and his father which results in numerous uncomfortable but hilarious episodes.

      As I've said before, I really liked that this film was done seriously with the characters providing lots of intelligent humor.  Sorta like a good Woody Allen movie.  Too many times with stories like these, the filmmakers will throw in lots of dumb humor that resembles TV sitcoms.  But here, Winick has fashioned a smart story while being done on a small, shoestring budget.  There is a continuing graininess to the look of the film, but this makes the film look like it's being actually filmed by a character following Oscar around, and this effect enhances the realistic feel to the film.

      But the greatest asset to the film is the acting by all of the major actors.  Newcomer Aaron Stanford does a great job playing a kid who thinks he is much wiser than his actual age.  Weaver and Ritter also are very believable and so good with parts that could have easily been played over-the-top and unrealistic.  But they knew how to smartly play these roles in a smaller key which again adds to the realism and drama of the story.  I also have to single out Bebe Neuwirth who is just excellent playing the good friend who doesn't seem to fear the ramifications of any of her actions.  And it was hard not too laugh at most of the lines she says.  I would love to see her get a best-supporting actress nomination for this role.

      For those who like to watch films which are basically theatrical plays on-screen with good acting and funny stuff throughout, "Tadpole" will most surely entertain you.  It always amazes me to see smaller films like this where the acting and writing is head and shoulders above much that I see in bigger budget films.  Go see this one and have a good time.