Orange County (2002)
Screenwriter Mike White has an interesting take on the world, and he can be blisteringly funny. But damn, does he need work with his focus. I was not a fan of Chuck & Buck (Owen Gleiberman is insane if he thinks that claptrap was the best film of 2000); this was an improvement, but not by a whole lot. The satirical bits were oft-hilarious (though if you've never lived in California, it might be less so)... but what could have been a great, ebullient goof on the SoCal way of life keeps getting interrupted by, and ultimately overtaken by, a soggy love-the-ones-you're-with inspirational tale. And as promising as he is, White doesn't always trust the intelligence of his audience -- there's a lot of spell-it-out-for-the-stoners dialogue, including a simply terrible scene at the end wherein an incidental character spends a full five minutes explaining the film's theme in big block letters. I half-expected to see a flashing message at the bottom of the screen saying "PAY ATTENTION. THIS IS WHAT I AM REALLY TRYING TO SAY WITH THIS FILM. YOU WILL BE QUIZZED ON THIS AS YOU LEAVE THE THEATER." Granted, it's pretty decent for a January release. That's damning with faint praise, but it doesn't mean you won't sigh "It coulda been great..." as the credits come up. (Incidentally, I would just like to go on the record as stating that Schuyler Fisk is pretty damn cute.)
Grade: C+
Screenwriter Mike White has an interesting take on the world, and he can be blisteringly funny. But damn, does he need work with his focus. I was not a fan of Chuck & Buck (Owen Gleiberman is insane if he thinks that claptrap was the best film of 2000); this was an improvement, but not by a whole lot. The satirical bits were oft-hilarious (though if you've never lived in California, it might be less so)... but what could have been a great, ebullient goof on the SoCal way of life keeps getting interrupted by, and ultimately overtaken by, a soggy love-the-ones-you're-with inspirational tale. And as promising as he is, White doesn't always trust the intelligence of his audience -- there's a lot of spell-it-out-for-the-stoners dialogue, including a simply terrible scene at the end wherein an incidental character spends a full five minutes explaining the film's theme in big block letters. I half-expected to see a flashing message at the bottom of the screen saying "PAY ATTENTION. THIS IS WHAT I AM REALLY TRYING TO SAY WITH THIS FILM. YOU WILL BE QUIZZED ON THIS AS YOU LEAVE THE THEATER." Granted, it's pretty decent for a January release. That's damning with faint praise, but it doesn't mean you won't sigh "It coulda been great..." as the credits come up. (Incidentally, I would just like to go on the record as stating that Schuyler Fisk is pretty damn cute.)
Grade: C+
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