Orange County Review
by Jerry Saravia (faust668 AT aol DOT com)September 30th, 2002
ORANGE COUNTY (2002)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
September 29th, 2002
Two stars
Writer-director Jake Kasdan showed a flair for the offbeat with the truly bizarre comedy "Zero Effect," which dealt with a heavily eccentric private investigator. Kasdan fashioned what one would call a "neo-noir comedy." It was an original. This time, Kasdan plays it a little safe, with help from screenwriter Mike White ("Chuck and Buck"), by trying to bring some invention to a dead-on-arrival genre, the romantic teenage comedy. It is a near miss but it has its share of laughs.
Colin Hanks (Tom Hanks' son) plays an acne-free teenage senior named Shaun Brumder with deep aspirations to become a writer. He starts out as a surfer with his buddies who neglects his studies. One day, he comes across a novel buried in the sand. The novel is called "Straight Jacket" and is written by a teacher at Stamford University, Marcus Skinner (Kevin Kline). Shaun is so inspired by the novel that he reads it 52 times and decides to become a writer and attend Stamford University. Only his father (John Lithgow) doesn't buy it, though Shaun tries to convince him to donate some money to the school. His drunken mother (Catherine O'Hara) doesn't want her son living somewhere else. Even Shaun's girlfriend, Ashley (Schuyler Fisk, Sissy Spacek's daughter), prefers that he attend the local university with her. In other words, we have seen this kind of plot countless times before. All I could wait for was something refreshing to happen that would elevate this material somewhat. What follows is only somewhat refreshing. Shaun discovers the wrong transcript was sent to Stamford. Thus, he persuades his brother, Lance (Jack Black), to drive out to the school with him and convince the admissions department to accept him. So what we have is a variation on "Road Trip" crossed with yet another party sequence (though thankfully limited in running time), not to mention some mischief at Stamford with Lance and a secretary (wonderfully played by Jane Adams).
I just can't say that "Orange County" is totally successful. At a meager 77 minutes before the credits come up (time it and see), "Orange County" has its big laughs whenever Jack Black appears onscreen but, frankly, little else. Black in particular is so pathetic in appearance (usually half-naked) and in his manner of speaking that you can't help but laugh every time he comes on. Director Kasdan lets him loose to do whatever he can with facial and physical movements - it is an inspired performance of a stoned, lazy personality.
The rest of the actors do not follow suit. Colin Hanks is as agreeable as they come and shares some of his father's personality, but it is a thin character given little pizazz. Schuyler Fisk is vibrant and winsome, and she does have her mother's determined personality - with time and more developed roles, she could become as interesting as Jennifer Connelly. Catherine O'Hara is often irritating though, as is reliable John Lithgow - and their shared scenes offer no comic energy. The cameos pepper things a bit, including brief turns by Chevy Chase, Lily Tomlin, Kevin Kline, Ben Stiller and Garry Marshall. Only Harold Ramis gives a performance that is the equivalent of scratching a blackboard with your fingernails. I might have said that before but, this time, it is decidedly true.
"Orange County" is pleasant time-filler but it needed more juice, more energy. It moves along quickly but it is too short for its own good. If there is a sequel, make Jack Black the lead star. He is a riot to watch always and gives "Orange County" the crudeness and comic highlights it so desperately needs. In a word, he is refreshing.
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