CCC Reviews

Orange County

I hope we all remember how Tom Hanks got his start into Hollywood. He started by filming cheap comedies that turned into surprise hits during the eighties. Movies like Big, The Money Pit and Turner & Hooch were all on Hanks' repertoire long before he was Cast Away and Saving Private Ryan.

Colin Hanks seems to be on the same track that his father was. With his first lead role in Orange County Hanks seems to have the exact same charisma that Tom has. Orange County is about a young aspiring writer who lives in Orange County where people are as shallow as the sun is bright. Shaun Brumder desperately craves to escape from Orange County and applies to Stanford University for college. However when his college counselor sends in the wrong transcript, Brumder is rejected from Stanford and he goes on a quest to get himself into Stanford.

The cast is absolutely incredible with many big name actors having small parts. From Jack Black's role as the stoned brother Lance to Catherine O'Hara and John Lithgow as dysfunctional parents, Chevy Chase and Lily Tomlin as really bad influences at school and Harold Ramis as the dean of admissions. The cast is incredibly funny and entertaining.

What people might not expect is that this movie is incredibly intelligent where Shaun Brumder is not nearly as superficial as the cast of American Pie or any other teen comedy. He is a character that cares about his future and while there is slapstick comedy, mostly through Jack Black, there is a fair number of jokes that Brumder delivers that are smart and witty. 

Scores for Orange County
Slacker711 - - "A surprisingly intelligent comedy with many cameos and a solid performance from Colin Hanks, Tom should be proud.."

Cast
Shaun Brumder - Colin Hanks
Ashley - Schuyler Fisk
Lance Brumder - Jack Black
Cindy Beugler - Catherine O'Hara
Bud Brumder - John Lithgow
Don Durkett - Harold Ramis
Charlotte Cobb - Lily Tomlin
Principal Harbert - Chevy Chase
Arlo - Kyle Howard
Chad - RJ Knoll
Lonny - Brett Harrison
Mr. Burke - Mike White
Bob Beugler - George Murdock
Lupe - Lillian Hurst
Tanya - Carly Pope
Kip - Nat Faxon
Dana - Olivia Rosewood
Marcus Skinner - Kevin Kline
Firefighter - Ben Stiller

Crew
Director - Jake Kasdan
Writer - Mike White
Producer - Scott Rudin
Producer - David Gale
Producer - Van Toffler
Co-Producer - Scott Aversano
Executive Producer - Herbert Gains
Executive Producer - Adam Shroeder
Original Music - Michael Andrews
Cinematography - Greg Gardiner
Film Editing - Tara Tampone
Casting - Felicia Fasano
Casting - Anne McCarthy
Casting - Mary Vernieu
Production Design - Gary Frutkoff