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Orange County
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Orange County  (Double Sided)
Orange County (Double Sided)
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Orange County Review

Directed By: Jake Kasdan.
Starring: Colin Hanks, Jack Black, Catherine O'Hara, Leslie Mann, Jonathan Lithgow, Schulyer Fisk featuring cameos by Chevy Chase, Harold Ramis, Kevin Kline and Lily Thomlin.

Synopsis: A smart high school student with his heart set on going to Stanford is horrified when his guidance counselor accidentally sends the wrong transcript with his college application. He spends the rest of the film trying to prove that he's actually a good student with a terrific grade point average.

What should one expect upon entering Orange County? If this were the run-of-the-mill movie I would say, don't expect much. After all, it's a teen comedy, they are meant to be dumb, meant to be senseless and the goals of the characters are usually shallow and pointless.

Not Orange County though. If I am to review this film following their logic and strategy, then this is one mess of a film. The only reason I can fathom it was made was as a coming-out party for the children of talent. Colin Hanks (son of Tom) along with Schulyer Fisk (daughter of Sissy Spacek) and Jake Kasden (son of director Lawrence Kasdan) are all out to prove that lineage has nothing to do with being in Hollywood, and in so doing, have failed miserably.

Jake Kasdan directed the under seen but truly unique Zero Effect years ago with Bill Pullman. Here he has strove for less and and achieved it. Orange County is going to (and I'm guessing here) earn about $45 million domestic. Does it deserve it? No!

The fault is not Colin Hanks (although he has a few shots where he recalls his father merely through facial reactions) who seems a likeable enough guy but the character, for being such a bright guy, does a lot of stupid things. Nor is it Schulyer Fisk's fault though in all honesty she would have been the last person I'd have cast in the role. She spends all her time being so earnest that when she does eventually turn her back her boyfriend it seems very out of character for her. I can't blame Jack Black and I really want to. This is his third film after the phenomenal High Fidelity that has pretty much sucked canal water. Jack gives it his best foot forward but the material can't support his weight. A scripting problem perhaps? Sure...probably...why not. You can always tell a scripting problem. When all else fails, bring in some talented SNL'ers/Second City people...that way perhaps they can improvise with the material given to them and make it funnier. Sure, that could work...but it doesn't. To be honest, the script is illogical. Two transcripts are sent to Stanford University and because of this, a slacker gets in and an ex-slacker now writer doesn't. So when he journeys to Stanford and makes a desperate plea to the Dean does he start with telling him that a mistake was made and that the wrong person was accepted into the University? No...he starts in with some underlying dream crap...a waste of the Dean's time.

The true problem behind Orange County is not that Colin Hanks didn't get in to Stanford...the true problem is that Michael White (the writer) was allowed to make another script after a previous MTV outing called Dead Man On Campus. Michael White must be made to realize that the premise itself, while perhaps witty, does not sustain the screenplay. Oh, and when writing such tripe as Orange County, it would be wise not to direct the audience to other writers whose work will stand the test of time.

Copyright© DVDwolf.com
Copyright© Written By: Rob Paul



DVD Information:

Special Features:
Menus
Scene Selection
4 Deleted Scenes with Director's and Writer's Commentary
Fifteen Promotional Spots
Commentary by Director Jake Kasdan and Writer Mike White
Theatrical Trailer

Video: Widescreen 1.85:1 (Anamorphic) Audio:
ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1
ENGLISH: Dolby Digital Surround
FRENCH: Dolby Digital Surround

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