The problem with "message movies" is that, sometimes, the message is better than the actual movie. Never before has this been more true than The Equation of Life (2014), a short film by 12 year-old Gerry Orz. Just 9 when he developed, wrote, and began shooting this anti-bullying drama (along with Terry Davis, who also served as cinematographer and editor), Orz has made it his mission to speak out against abuse; being a victim himself, he simply doesn't want anyone else to go through the same pain. This 33-minute film is an extension of his earlier production, Day of Silence (2012), a like-minded personal account of his struggles with an oppressive classmate. Together, The Equation of Life and Day of Silence are almost bulletproof by design and sobering reminders that most of us wasted our childhoods in comparison. After all, who's got the nerve to tell a well-meaning, ambitious kid that his movie is anything but perfect?

Orz portrays Adam Syder, a young student tormented by new classmate Nathan (Zachary Haven) for weeks on end. Sporadically beaten and bloodied, Adam only reveals the situation to his sister Miranda (Kaitlin Morgan). Once his mother and her partner find out, they seem to dismiss the situation as "kids being kids". After weeks turn into months, Adam fights back and, during the scuffle, disaster strikes and somebody winds up dead. In the wake of the tragedy, we're reminded that kindness, honesty, and a little common sense might have prevented a situation like this. It's a simple premise that, given the proper treatment, would be a fantastic little short film from a promising young man.

As the introduction implied, though, sometimes "well-meaning" doesn't always equal "good movie". Without question, The Equation of Life rarely rises above the level you'd expect from a pre-teen trying to put together a short film. Orz's acting is rarely convincing, at least to the point where the passable supporting performances feel substantially stronger by comparison. I'm not expecting any kid fresh out of elementary school to steal the show...but based on what's here, his talents lie behind the camera for now. The "bully encounters" (obviously shot first, as Orz appears noticeably younger) are in dire need of a do-over: both participants can be seen laughing during the fights, making us think Nathan is just horsing around instead of posing a real threat. On the other hand, the interactions between Nathan and his demonic mother (Willow Hale) are so over-the-top and forced that they're almost laughable for entirely different reasons. Together, the end result lies somewhere between an after-school special and a first-job orientation video.

So yes, The Equation of Life is shamelessly manipulative, incredibly naive, and completely amateur...but again, most of these things can be forgiven if you take Orz's age into account. By no means do I want to trash the work of an ambitious young filmmaker whose heart is obviously in the right place. But Orz seems more than mature enough to accept a little bit of honest criticism, and The Equation of Life plays out like no one had the guts to offer very much along the way. I love what Orz is going for, and I respect that he's taken the initiative to do it...but I'd rather give someone tough love than a pat on the head, especially when they're obviously hoping to make movies for the rest of their life.

Shot on digital video using what appears to be 2-3 different grades of consumer-level equipment, The Equation of Life looks as rough as you'd expect. The aspect ratio seems to switch between 1.78:1 and 1.85:1 at different points along the way, and this 480p transfer seems more than capable enough of handling the limited source elements. Colors and image detail are definitely a bit lacking, though portions of the film's second half fare much better than the earlier material. Contrast and black levels are very uneven...but again, I'd imagine that most (if not all) of these faults stem from the original source material and not the transfer. Overall, it's watchable but rarely rises above YouTube quality.

Likewise, the audio can be problematic but it's no fault of the DVD. Presented in Dolby Digital 2.0, the music is often mixed a bit too high and drowns out some of the dialogue, but these situations are rare and not overly distracting. Channel separation is evident but rarely strong. Luckily, optional English and Spanish subtitles have been included, which is more than I can say for most independent features. It's a nice touch that may help expand the film's audience.

It's undoubtedly made for young audiences, but only the least observant viewers will find no faults with The Equation of Life. The film does have its moments and its heart is undoubtedly in the right place, though its poor leading performance and heavy-handed treatment negate most of the film's lasting effectiveness. Still, it's almost impossible not to admire the ambition of young filmmaker Gerry Orz, who's seeking to help others instead of shouting profanity at Call of Duty challengers, so here's hoping he goes on to bigger and better things. Entertainment One's DVD offers a passable A/V presentation that maintains the film's modest origins, plus a few short supplements. But let's face it: there's very little replay value here, and $15+ for roughly an hour's worth of content don't exactly scream "blind buy". Rent It.