Genre: Comedy
Length: 1h 27m 0s
Director: Jake Kasdan
Tagline: It's not just a place. It's a state of mind.
Plot outline: Shaun Brumder is a local surfer kid from Orange County who dreams of going to Stanford to become a writer and to get away from his disfunctional family household. Except Shaun runs into one complication after another starting when his application is rejected after his dim-witted guidance counselor sends the wrong application. So, Shaun goes to great lengths with a little help from his girlfriend Ashley and his drugged-out loser brother Lance to get into Stanford any way they see fit. Summary written by Matthew Patay
Comment: This movie could be pigeon-holed as just another typical teen hijinks movie. However, it's actually funny, but with no one humping any oranges (thankfully). The movie takes place in Orange County, CA (hence the title) and is centered around over-achiever Shaun played by Colin "Mr. Too Cute and Youthful-looking For His Own Good" Hanks who after going through an emotional experience decides to go to college and become a writer. After applying to the Ivy-league Stanford University, Shaun is rejected. He later learns that his bone-head guidance counselor sent the wrong transcripts under his name to Stanford. Shaun now must find a way to convince the university to accept him with the help of his dead-beat brother Lance played by Jack Black and girlfriend Ashley played by Schulyer Fisk. Okay, enough summary. This movie has its differences from the rest of the "teen genre" in the sense that the main character actually gives a damn about his life beyond the latest keg party. Shaun's girlfriend Ashley isn't just some dumb chick with no personality or life. However, Ashley's character motivations aren't clear and plus, they could've gotten somebody better-looking to play her. Jack Black's character Lance walks around in his underwear for the majority of the movie. Even though Colin Hanks plays the main protaganist, Jack Black manages to steal the spotlight with his over-the-top comedy. At seeing that it's not just Shaun's brother that is eccentric, but his whole family is a bunch of loons, you begin to understand his desperation for wanting to get into college and get away from them so badly. It's interesting and hilarious to observe the comedy that ensues. The script isn't weighed down with any super gross-out jokes that are so famous in teen movies these days. This might make it hard to convince teens to see this film. Most teens might see the film's lack of gross-out jokes as un-funny. The whole idyllic Orange County lifestyle seems a bit corny in this film. Some of the high schoolers look and act too stereotypically. The upside is there isn't too much story wasted on attempting to make Shaun look like any less of a geek than he already is. All in all, this movie was a decent start for Colin Hanks' breakthrough role as a starring actor. Tom would be proud.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
Country: USA
Language:
Subtitels: No ()
| Actors: | ||
| Colin Hanks | as | Shaun Brumder |
| Jack Black (I) | as | Lance Brumder |
| Catherine O'Hara | as | Cindy Beugler |
| Schuyler Fisk | as | Ashley |