Question:
First review so be gentle :)
Unfortunately I have a disease. Its hereditary. I really like crap films, especially American teen comedies (Van Wilder, American pie 1 and 2, Bring it on, Sugar and Spice). I had seen trailers for Orange County, and to be honest, couldn't wait to see it. I mean, What could be better than a teen comedy with Jack Black in it? Well as it turns out an awful lot.
Orange County is the story of Shaun Brumder's (Colin Hanks) calamitous attempt to get into Stamford university so that he can realise his dream of becoming a writer. After finding a book in the sand one day after surfing that seems to depict his life perfectly, he decides that the life of a bum is no longer for him. He has to get away from his alcoholic mother (Catherine O'Hara) and his druggy brother (Jack Black), but when his Guidence Counciller mistakingly sends the wrong transcript to Stamford, Shaun embarks on a series of bizarre and 'hilarious' events. Thats the premise anyway, in reality it really doesn't hit the mark.
Right from the start the jokes in Orange County are extremely tired, with not a single one sticking in my mind. Chevy Chase has a minor role as the principle and had one or two of the more enjoyable scene's, John Lithgow played his usual wacky self as Colin Hanks's rich and selfish father and Kevin Kline had a small role as the writer of the life changing book. Add this list together and you get more than your average cast list for a teen comedy, and maybe thats the downfall of this film. The acting is more than adequate, the plot however is very ropey indeed, with various holes The biggest being the fact that the guidence counciller doesn't even attempt to make up for her mistake and contact Stamford.
I have a friend that doesn't like teen comedies and loved this film so maybe its just me, but if you're like me then wait for the dvd to come out, hire it, and never watch it again.
4/10
I agree, thought it was average ... felt like a drama instead of a comedy most of the time, and was dissapointed by Chevy Chase just have the small role :(
I loved Jake Kasdan's last film, the overlooked Zero Effect, and I naturally believe that Jack Black ROCKS (ahh-ahhh! etc) - so I was eager to see Orange County. And while it's nowhere near as good as Zero Effect, it's certainly enjoyable and entertaining enough. But only just enough...
A weird mix of family drama, gross comedy hi-jinx and coming of age fable, the cast and director perform excellently with a script that shoots that little bit too low. The result is a kind of Diet Wonder Boys, the mid-life crisis replaced with teen angst. There are some great touches within - the California rich kid lifestyle is mercilessly lampooned (check the architecture of the Orange County high school :lol: ), there are nicely handled cameos, and it clocks in well under an hour and a half so nothing outstays its welcome. Not great then, but no slouch either.
I loved Orange County, one of the best and funniest comedies of the year. After the first 5 minutes, which broadly sets up the life of Colin Hanks's character, a Californian surfer from a (very) dysfunctional family with ambitions to become a writer, I was expecting a dumb teen comedy about slacker duuuudes but it's more than that. Sure the film, which follows Hanks's attempts to get accepted in a prestigious university, has its share of dumb farce but it's good dumb farce, in the tradition of the Farrelly brothers rather than their pale copycats (like Van Wilder) and there's also a lot of very sharp, well observed and witty observations about modern family life and American academia, from high school to the Ivy league. Everyone gets sent up in these self-absorbed worlds and the film pulls off the very delicate trick of making fun of its characters while showing genuine affection for them.
Colin Hanks is perfect as the put-upon student, recalling Albert Brooks and Ben Stiller's work as comic everymen. Director Jake Kasdan surrounds him with a brilliant cast, almost all of whom have moments to shine but special mention must go to the great Jack Black and, my personal favourite, Catherine O'Hara. Yeah I wish Chevy Chase had been given more to do - he gets 2 big laughs in a short scene - and Ben Stiller is also a tad wasted but small complaints. If you want a really good laugh at something other than people eating bulldog semen or getting penises caught in their tongue piercings, check this out.
In the minority again I see :(
Originally posted by sharp_circle
In the minority again I see :(
Don't feel bad. I gave a positive review to Boat Trip. :dork:
heh, well I thought that was funny actually :p
Well just bought this as a blind purchase and i loved it, a top film with a top soundtrack.
8/10
In the minority again I see :(
I'm with you man, saw this a few weeks ago and felt that it was distinctly average. The plot hole you mention should have been covered properly.
I loved Orange County as well.
First 20-25 minutes are a bit slow and you're kinda bracing yourself for a very average movie, but then it all really picks up. Some scenes had me gasping for breath I was laughing so hard.
8/10 :thumbs:
I'm on the 'loved this film' side of the fence too. Got it as part of the Jack Black double pack a month or so ago.
Yeah i loved this film also, its quietly entertaining and a good film to relax to. It doesn't force to much onto you and that makes it one of my favourite 're-watachables'. I didn't however find Jack Black that appealing in this film at all, i think he took it a bit far. But otherwise, its well worth a watch
Unfortunately I have a disease. Its hereditary. I really like crap films, especially American teen comedies (Van Wilder, American pie 1 and 2, Bring it on, Sugar and Spice). I had seen trailers for Orange County, and to be honest, couldn't wait to see it. I mean, What could be better than a teen comedy with Jack Black in it? Well as it turns out an awful lot.
Orange County is the story of Shaun Brumder's (Colin Hanks) calamitous attempt to get into Stamford university so that he can realise his dream of becoming a writer. After finding a book in the sand one day after surfing that seems to depict his life perfectly, he decides that the life of a bum is no longer for him. He has to get away from his alcoholic mother (Catherine O'Hara) and his druggy brother (Jack Black), but when his Guidence Counciller mistakingly sends the wrong transcript to Stamford, Shaun embarks on a series of bizarre and 'hilarious' events. Thats the premise anyway, in reality it really doesn't hit the mark.
Right from the start the jokes in Orange County are extremely tired, with not a single one sticking in my mind. Chevy Chase has a minor role as the principle and had one or two of the more enjoyable scene's, John Lithgow played his usual wacky self as Colin Hanks's rich and selfish father and Kevin Kline had a small role as the writer of the life changing book. Add this list together and you get more than your average cast list for a teen comedy, and maybe thats the downfall of this film. The acting is more than adequate, the plot however is very ropey indeed, with various holes The biggest being the fact that the guidence counciller doesn't even attempt to make up for her mistake and contact Stamford.
I have a friend that doesn't like teen comedies and loved this film so maybe its just me, but if you're like me then wait for the dvd to come out, hire it, and never watch it again.
4/10
Answers:
I agree, thought it was average ... felt like a drama instead of a comedy most of the time, and was dissapointed by Chevy Chase just have the small role :(
Answers:
I loved Jake Kasdan's last film, the overlooked Zero Effect, and I naturally believe that Jack Black ROCKS (ahh-ahhh! etc) - so I was eager to see Orange County. And while it's nowhere near as good as Zero Effect, it's certainly enjoyable and entertaining enough. But only just enough...
A weird mix of family drama, gross comedy hi-jinx and coming of age fable, the cast and director perform excellently with a script that shoots that little bit too low. The result is a kind of Diet Wonder Boys, the mid-life crisis replaced with teen angst. There are some great touches within - the California rich kid lifestyle is mercilessly lampooned (check the architecture of the Orange County high school :lol: ), there are nicely handled cameos, and it clocks in well under an hour and a half so nothing outstays its welcome. Not great then, but no slouch either.
Answers:
I loved Orange County, one of the best and funniest comedies of the year. After the first 5 minutes, which broadly sets up the life of Colin Hanks's character, a Californian surfer from a (very) dysfunctional family with ambitions to become a writer, I was expecting a dumb teen comedy about slacker duuuudes but it's more than that. Sure the film, which follows Hanks's attempts to get accepted in a prestigious university, has its share of dumb farce but it's good dumb farce, in the tradition of the Farrelly brothers rather than their pale copycats (like Van Wilder) and there's also a lot of very sharp, well observed and witty observations about modern family life and American academia, from high school to the Ivy league. Everyone gets sent up in these self-absorbed worlds and the film pulls off the very delicate trick of making fun of its characters while showing genuine affection for them.
Colin Hanks is perfect as the put-upon student, recalling Albert Brooks and Ben Stiller's work as comic everymen. Director Jake Kasdan surrounds him with a brilliant cast, almost all of whom have moments to shine but special mention must go to the great Jack Black and, my personal favourite, Catherine O'Hara. Yeah I wish Chevy Chase had been given more to do - he gets 2 big laughs in a short scene - and Ben Stiller is also a tad wasted but small complaints. If you want a really good laugh at something other than people eating bulldog semen or getting penises caught in their tongue piercings, check this out.
Answers:
In the minority again I see :(
Answers:
Originally posted by sharp_circle
In the minority again I see :(
Don't feel bad. I gave a positive review to Boat Trip. :dork:
Answers:
heh, well I thought that was funny actually :p
Answers:
Well just bought this as a blind purchase and i loved it, a top film with a top soundtrack.
8/10
Answers:
In the minority again I see :(
I'm with you man, saw this a few weeks ago and felt that it was distinctly average. The plot hole you mention should have been covered properly.
Answers:
I loved Orange County as well.
First 20-25 minutes are a bit slow and you're kinda bracing yourself for a very average movie, but then it all really picks up. Some scenes had me gasping for breath I was laughing so hard.
8/10 :thumbs:
Answers:
I'm on the 'loved this film' side of the fence too. Got it as part of the Jack Black double pack a month or so ago.
Answers:
Yeah i loved this film also, its quietly entertaining and a good film to relax to. It doesn't force to much onto you and that makes it one of my favourite 're-watachables'. I didn't however find Jack Black that appealing in this film at all, i think he took it a bit far. But otherwise, its well worth a watch
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