Plot
An author who returns to his hometown to deliver a commencement address to a class of graduating high school students has to deal with his feelings for an old flame as well as the advances of a student who has the hots for him.
Release Year: 2009
Rating: 5.3/10 (1,313 voted)
Director:
Michael Polish
Stars: Winona Ryder, Mark Polish, Sean Astin
Storyline The film centers on a successful author who is forced to confront an unrequited high school crush when he returns home to deliver a commencement address to graduating seniors. Shasta O'Neil, a sexy high school senior flirts with the visiting author and invites him to the prom. The film is described as a "knowing-your-age comedy".
Cast: Winona Ryder
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Scarlet Smith
Mark Polish
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Henry McCarthy
Sean Astin
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Big Girl
Hilary Duff
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Shasta O'Neil
Josh Holloway
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Wino
Jon Cryer
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Javier
Chevy Chase
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Principal Marshall
Jessica St. Clair
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Darcy Portola
Frances Conroy
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Mrs. Leuchtenberger
Marc Blucas
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Brad Nelson
Joanna Cassidy
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Mrs. Smith
Dee Wallace
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Mrs. McCarthy
Michael Gross
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Mr. McCarthy
Ken Johnson
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Mr. O'Neil
Jessica Schatz
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Mrs. O'Neil
Trivia:
In the opening narration, the writer refers to past acquaintances by category. He refers to "...soon to be out of the closet gay guys" as the picture focuses on a high school photo of a "Phil Morris". Phil Morris is the name of Steven Russell's (Jim Carrey) male love interest & titular character in "I Love You Philip Morris".
Quotes: Shasta O'Neil:
A good hug is just like unlock all of those years paint of pain. Henry McCarthy:
One good hug would probably get me lock up for another year good of 20 years of pain.
User Review
Too stupid
Rating: 5/10
I got this movie on the basis of its IMDb score and the one big name -
Winona Ryder. I have to say - IMDb voters, you let me down this time.
No way is this worth 7.6 (edit - my faith is restored in IMDb voters -
the rating has dropped considerably, now) .
The premise is reasonable and could have been made into a really good
movie but, oh dear, there are far too many stupid plot lines. Henry
McCarthy goes back home to give the commencement speech at his old high
school. He is picked up by his two best friends from the airport (one
of whom is Josh Holloway - I didn't like him in Lost and I really
didn't like him here) and then come the clichés: served coffee by one
of his former classmates, stopped by the police while drink-driving -
guess what, another former classmate who lets him go with a pat on the
back.
The idea that the principal (Chevy Chase with a plaster on his nose
(why??? - it wasn't funny)) would treat his former pupil turned
important author as a naughty schoolboy was stupid. So too was the fact
that Scarlet's boyfriend, the coach, acted like a jealous 18 years old.
Stupid, also, was the police involvement after the prom - is there
really an offence of having a private party with underage drinking in
the States (maybe so, but surely not one of being a 38 year old man in
the company of an 18 year old girl). And so it went on (do they leave
show houses open at night? If his Dad was so keen on his car why didn't
he run it through a carwash before returning it?)
When the commencement speech and dénouement with Scarlet did come they
were both underwhelming.
All in all I think this film's rating should languish in the sub 6
territory (my personal watershed for whether a film is worth watching).
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