The Popkorn Junkie :: Orange County

       I know lots of people are going to bash this movie, and say things like: it's just another typical gross-out teen movie, and why should I see it? First off, that statement is unfounded and not true. Yes, this movie fits perfectly into the teen demographic (the pre-teens walking out of the theater at the same time I was loved it) , but there's no gross-out humor like in all the other "teen" movies. This one stands out.

      "Orange County" is about a young writer, Shawn Brumder, played by Tom Hanks' offspring Colin, who lives in...you guessed it: Orange County, California. Everyone loves it. Except for Shawn, that is. He thinks that living in Orange County is preventing him from becoming a writer, and when the school of his choice rejects him, he becomes determined to go to that school of his choice anyway.

      Well, let's just say he has a little help from his big brother, Lance, played by Jack Black. Keyword: a little, because when Lance isn't helping him, he's unknowingly sabotaging his little brother or running around half naked. And if this movie has any raunch to it at all, it's because of Jack...and I mean that in a good way. That's what Jack Black is paid to do. It's what he did to perfection in "High Fidelity", and currently doing in "Orange County".

So, it's a teen movie, but it's not really a teen movie, and it stands out? Huh, James? Ya, lost us.

      You see, "teen" movies are just fluff. They're just there to make you laugh, and that's not a bad thing, but those type of movies aren't "about" anything. There's no message. "Orange County" has a message. It's about staying close to people who love you. Whether they be family, friends, surfer buddies, stoned-most-of-the-time big brothers...oh wait I already said 'family'. This movie is about all that. It's not a gross-out teen flick. There's no pastry-raping. No Wayans came close to this script.

Ooh, it has a message and there's no pie-humping...it's the best movie of the year, right James?!

      Don't get ahead of me now. Yes, the story is good, and the message is good, but some of the dialogue stank, and some of the characters seemed a bit too stereotypical. I mean, c'mon, are all 20 year old women terrible with kids? Does every kid in SoCal surf? Well, the jury's still out on that one, but still.

      You know, I could take it if those were the only problems, but the movie starts out, right off the bat, disorienting. There's too much camera movement. It practically made me seasick, but you know what, that would be fitting because the opening shot was of the ocean! Then there's the classic-spin-around-the-actor shot. Now, that's a very fine type of shot, but it was totally unnecessary. Why use it here? Ooh look at me, I can spin!

      Other goofs include, but not limited to: poorly lit scenes, untimely selection or misused choice of music, and effects without a cause. I'm sorry, but if I hear "Butterfly" one more time, I'm gonna puke. Why did they put that in there?

Yeah James, why?

      Because they thought they had to appeal to teens, since the movie is about one. That's a wrong assumption. They had a perfectly good movie, with a message, and they f---ed it up by trying to appeal to every teen! And why use that song? That's the working definition of a one hit wonder, not to mention it is sooo yesteryear. Well, at least they tried to appeal to teens without resorting to gratuitous pie-raping, right all?

Right, James.

      In other words, this is a nice little movie, with some funny cameo's (won't mention any) and an inspiring message. The acting is good, not great, but good. The comedy isn't too over-the-top (except for Jack Black, but c'mon that's to be e-x-p-e-c-t-e-d.) This might just be the breakout role for Colin Hanks, and if it was a little better technically, I wouldn't be so uncertain about that. So, watch this if you want, but just don't listen to anybody who tries to tell you it's typical gross-out teen fluff!

-- James ( 2 1/2 out of 4 pops )

Talk about this film with other Popkorn Junkies

Other Junkie's opinions.....

Billy Ray ( 2 out of 4 pops )

There should be a law against showing scenes in the trailer that don't actually appear in the film. I've always hated that and I will continue to hate that. I know there is a thing called necessary editing, but they should do that before they piece together the trailer for the film. "Orange County" is an apparent victim. Over 50% of scenes from the trailer never show up on screen, some scenes that really made the movie look so appealing. I walked away from "Orange County" feeling cheated and utterly disappointed. What could have been a wonderful look at adolescent choices--another "Rushmore"--turned into an MTV produced teen flick that seemed more like a "Dead Man on Campus", though not quite that terrible. I suppose I liked the film to an extent--Colin Hanks is a wonderful young actor and should have a great future ahead of him. Jack Black is hilarious, but there just wasn't enough of him on screen. I loved Kevin Kline's cameo as Professor Skinner, and I especially loved John Lithgow as the father. There is one outstanding scene in which Lithgow has just told his wife he wants a divorce so he can remarry his ex-wife--that is quality filmmaking, the kind that should have been throughout. There are brief moments of tenderness and genius that are interrupted by unnecessary comic reliefs, such as Catherine O'Hara's eighty year old husband Bob who plays the accident victim, and a boy Schuyler Fisk meets at a party who just so happens to have terrible dental hygiene. Those characters were not needed. Not to mention, the film only seemed to last an hour. In actuality it was around 90 minutes, but it seemed much shorter--that is not good at all. All in all, this was a decent film, but not close to a great one. I was extremely disappointed because I know this could have been much better--maybe if they would have left the scenes from the trailer in it might have been. Then again, maybe not.

Matt ( 2 1/2 out of 4 pops )

OK, so this is not another gross-out teen comedy. I'll admit that. But the film opens with a lot of silly, forced gags. And I feel sorry for the people of (the real) Orange County. I've never been there, but I'm pretty sure not everyone's either a surfer, stoner or ditz. Despite its flaws, I have to admire this movie. Why? Because it gets better as it goes along, rather than starting with a bang and waning out. And, unlike the average teen flick, the adult characters are well-developed! Aside from the fresh young performers, there's a large array of talented veteran actors including John Lithgow (the funniest of the lot), Lily Tomlin, Catherine O'Hara (also a hoot), Chevy Chase, Garry Marshall, Harold Ramis and Kevin Kline. Colin Hanks and Schuyler Fisk carry their parents' names well. But when it comes down to it, this film is amazingly heartfelt and has a great message, especially for aspiring writers.