Orange County
Review
by : Gareth Von Kallenbach
Starring:
Colin Hanks (Shaun Brumder), Jack Black (Lance),
Schuyler Fisk (Ashley)
Directed by: Jake Casdan
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Who can ever forget the joys and hassles of selecting a college?
There are the S.A.T scores, the grades to maintain, the list
of clubs and activities, and the constant dealings with a
guidance counselor. The funny thing about guidance counselors,
is the concern that if they are really such experts on colleges
and how to get in the right college, then how did they end
up in such a position?
After
all of the forms have been filled out, applications mailed,
and interviews and visits completed, then comes the dreaded
task of waiting for an acceptance to the college that will
mark ones transition into adulthood, and provide an education
and experiences that will shape ones future and develop a
person into whom they are to become.
In the
new film "Orange County" viewers are introduced to Shaun Brumder
(Colin Hanks), a straight A student who has developed a love
of writing following the surfing death of a friend. A chance
finding of a book by a noted author at Stanford has given
Shaun the direction he has looked for, and he wants nothing
more than to attend Stanford and study writing under the author
who inspired him. Shaun's guidance counselor (Lily Tomlin),
tells him that he is certain to get into Stanford, and that
he does not need to apply to any other schools. The days of
waiting pass, and Shaun is shocked when he is rejected for
admission. A quick check of the facts uncovers that the school
sent Stanford the wrong transcripts, and Shaun is determined
to get into the school.
Sadly
for Shaun, his family is in the way. By calling in a favor,
Shaun's girlfriend Ashley (Schuyler Fisk), sets up a meeting
with a member of Stanfords admissions board. In one of the
funniest scenes in recent memory, things go badly from this
point on. Shaun's mother is drunk, and spills all of her venom
over Shauns father (John Lithgow), who left her for a younger
woman. Shaun's stoned surfer buddies show up unannounced,
and worse yet, brother Lance (Jack Black), arrives clad only
in his underwear looking for a urine sample for his probabtion
officer to avoid jail.
If this
was not bad enough events follow that make a bad situation
even worse, and Shaun, Ashley, and Lance head to Stanford
in a last ditch effort to fix the damage that has been done.
What follows
is some predictable but at times entertaining adventures,
where Shaun has to question what he wants in life, and discover
the things that matter to him and inspire him. While not a
deep story, the film has some funny moments and Black and
Hanks are very good in their roles despite having limited
material to work with. The film is not very long so I would
suggest seeing it during the day when it is cheaper or waiting
for a video.
Gareth
Von Kallenbach
Gareth@nwlink.com
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