Most moviegoers think John C. Reilly and see a funny sidekick, with great comedic timing and a knack for the inappropriately funny. In “Terri,” he proves that he can be the glue that holds a movie together.

“Terri” focuses on the relationship between a quirky vice principal (played by Reilly) and an obese teen named, you guessed it, Terri. The film is heartwarming, focusing on the struggles of Terri in the harsh world that is high school but showing the hope that comes from one simple relationship.

While Reilly takes “Terri” through both serious and comedic turns, it is the acting of young newcomer Jacob Wysocki that really makes the film what it is. He is the male version of “Precious,” a character that people can’t help but root for. Wysocki’s roles in the past have always been the fat kid, but his personification of the high school stereotype is unmatched.

Without some comic moments, a film like this would be too deep for people to stand, but director Azazel Jacobs keeps the perfect balance of heart wrenching realizations and gut-bursting laughter in the movie. “Terri” is an homage to the outcast in a film that is above all else real.

— Corianne Egan