We've seen enough movies about the horror of being young and dorky -- and Lord knows how many of us have suffered through that larva stage. So why live through it again?

Because "Rocket Science" not only feels our collective pain, it makes us laugh wickedly at the memories. And Jeffrey Blitz's smart, deceptively lighthearted movie gives audiences an endearing nerd-messiah to revisit that angst for all of us and -- maybe, just maybe -- he'll end up in love and ahead.

Our messiah is Hal Hefner (Reece Thompson), a New Jersey high school student with a debilitating stutter, and such low self-esteem he always takes the path of least resistance. At the canteen, he orders fish instead of pizza because "fish" is easier to pronounce. When the teacher asks, "What kind of a name is O. Henry?" he scrawls "nom de plume."

Only Hal knows how deep his waters run -- or thinks he does. That changes when the icy, smart, haughty and gorgeous Ginny Ryerson (Anna Kendrick) invites him to be her partner on the debate team. Ginny Ryerson? Ginny. Chose. Him. Suddenly, his future is lit with purpose.

Although this opening suggests a sappy beauty-and-the-geek romance, Blitz (who directed 2002's terrific spelling bee documentary, "Spellbound") opts for deeper, darker and wittier developments. After Hal pursues Ginny and she seems to be falling for him, the movie takes the first of many left-hand turns.

We're never sure where the movie is taking us -- but that's its greatest asset. This peripatetic approach puts "Rocket Science" squarely in the company of cruel-is-cool films such as "Rushmore," "Donnie Darko," "Ghost World" and "Brick," where the weapons of choice are hurtful words, observed irony and outright sarcasm; and where the adults are frequently callous or clueless.

Although the stakes may seem banal -- how important, really, is winning a state debate championship? -- the psychic prize is more significant. We are forever longing for Hal to emerge, butterfly-like, from his spiritual cocoon. What's really at stake is his emotional future.

-- Desson Thomson (August 17, 2007)

Contains sexual content and profanity.