'Tadpole' is one of those small-scale, 'intelligent' New York comedies that either works brilliantly (see Six Degrees of Separation, for example) or just comes across as smug. Unfortunately, this film falls in the latter category. It's not half as funny as it thinks it is (and no funnier or more clever for the tedious references to Voltaire and the classics) and almost all the characters are more annoying than endearing (including the old-before-his-time lead). The subject matter, too, is hardly ground-breaking and the soundtrack is repetitive and obvious. Still, it has some nice touches and the acting is mostly convincing (although I wasn't convinced by the gaggle of middle-aged women that seemed quite comfortable with vocally expressing their delight for what amounts to paedophilia - he's FOURTEEN, ladies).
The 70-minute running time is unusual, but frankly if it had been any longer I'd probably have given up.
The 70-minute running time is unusual, but frankly if it had been any longer I'd probably have given up.