Didn’t think I was gonna like this one, but it definitely had its moments. “Chronicle,” a coming-of-age film of sorts, capitalizes on the paranormal activity theme that has become so popular in the last couple years.

Directed by Josh Trank, “Chronicle” centers on Andrew Detmer (Dane DeHaan), a reclusive misfit who is always getting punched in the face for one reason or another. His mother, Karen (Bo Peterson) is critically ill, and his father, Richard (Michael Kelly), a firefighter who has been injured on the job and cannot work, occupies his time by going upside his son’s head at every opportunity.

Mercifully, Andrew has managed to find allies in his cousin Matt Garretty (Alex Russell) and best friend, the charismatic Steve Montgomery (Nick Cannon look-alike, Michael B. Jordan). One night, Steve and Matt discover a seemingly bottomless pit, and ask Andrew, who has suddenly taken to filming everything, to get some footage. Foolishly, they all jump into the pit, and are immediately exposed to some type of paranormal energy that endows them with telekinetic powers.    

Michael and Matt use their new-found powers to have a bit of fun, and for a while the only thing that the film “chronicles” is the boundless stupidity of teenaged boys. Using their mental “gift” to move cars from one parking space to another, play practical jokes in the supermarket and even teach themselves how to levitate, their antics are so silly that you laugh out loud in spite of yourself. However for Andrew, who has been a victim his entire life, that power soon begins to corrupt and he uses it to exact his revenge on everyone who has ever wronged him — or might do him wrong in the future. This can only end badly.    

While the screenplay by Max Landis is flawed and employs the usual Hollywood clichés, the three young men are so engaging and share such great chemistry that you find yourself drawn into the story. However, unless you are a male between the ages of 13 and 35, you may want to wait for the DVD.

Contact entertainment reporter Kimberly C. Roberts at (215) 893-5753 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .