A gentler alternative to the risqué antics of films such as American Pie and Superbad, Bart Got a Room might be short on belly laughs but it's got far more heart and soul than your average teen comedy.

Florida teen Danny Stein (Kaplan) is facing a major crisis. With the school prom approaching, he still hasn't found a date and, worst of all, his incredibly geeky classmate Bart (Chad Jamian Williams) has not only found a willing filly but has also booked a hotel room for post-party shenanigans.

Caught between his divorced parents as they both look for new love in all the wrong places, Danny does his best to ignore their advice as he desperately looks for a date. Although his childhood friend and close confidant Camille (Shawkat) is willing, Danny thinks he can do better, embarking on a number of disastrous attempts to woo high school hotties who are way out of his league.

As the big day arrives and Danny remains dateless, it's up to dad Ernie (Macy) to make some drastic last minute arrangements. With his prom night descending into complete chaos, the gawky teenager begins to realise that spurning Camille may have been a big mistake.

More bright and breezy than crude and sleazy, Bart Got A Room relies on well-crafted characters and a highly evocative sense of place rather than shock gags and outlandish situations.

Set in the sweltering suburbs of Hollywood, Florida, the cool jazzy soundtrack and languid pace give Hecker's film a fresh feel, the director perfectly capturing the place and people of this laid back beachfront community.

Although the older members of the cast outshine the newcomers – particularly Macy's deeply embarrassing dad, complete with a Lou Reed-style curly perm – the performances are well-pitched across the board.

Fans of Curb Your Enthusiasm will appreciate seeing the excellent Hines as Danny's mom, trying her best to start a new life with Bob, her clearly unsuitable suitor, played by Coen Brothers regular Jon Polito.

While a few more laughs wouldn't go amiss (although a scene where Macy simulates sex noises to the consternation of a passing OAP is priceless), Bart Got A Room is a heartfelt paean to the highs and lows of adolescence, delivered with style and substance by a classy cast.

Chris Prince