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Orange County can be described as many things, and it has. I would like to
say it is enjoyably brilliant. This comical social commentary should strike
chords with anyone who feels submersed by pop-culture, or anyone who has
ever dreamed of a goal they can’t quite get to.
Orange County instantly paints the crystal clear picture of distorted
reality in its six minute prologue and history of Shaun Brumder, brilliantly
played by Colin Hanks, (of the Tom variety). After one of his close friends
dies in a surfing accident, Shaun decides, "Maybe there's more to life than
extreme sports and getting laid," which sends him on the teenage soul
search. While pondering existence, he finds a copy of Marcus Skinner's teen
angst novel Straight Jacket buried like a gem in the sand. Within
its pages, Shaun discovers a passion for writing and leaves the surfer life
to focus on his writing and academics.
When in comes time to apply to universities, Shaun has only one choice:
Stanford University where his idol Marcus Skinner, (Kevin Kline), teaches.
Shaun also decides to send Skinner a copy of his newly completed novella
Orange County in hopes that he will be able to get some honest feedback
from his role model. Unfortunately his school counselor, (Lily Tomlin),
isn’t all there and sends the wrong transcript to Stanford resulting in
Shaun’s rejection.
Desperately seeking for ways around his rejection, Shaun enlists the help of
his family. With his father, (John Lithgow) unwilling to help him in
wasting his time with writing and his mother (Catherine O’hara) constantly
riding the emotional tides of too much Champaign, his brother Lance (Jack
Black) drives Shaun and his girlfriend Ashley (Schulyer Fisk; Sissy Spacek’s
Daughter), all the way to Stanford to sort out the school counselor’s
error. Upon arrival at Stanford, things take turn after turn for the worst
until a fateful encounter with Shaun’s idol.
Orange County is full of hysterical exaggerations of the pop-culture
nightmare we live in today, but also perfectly captures the struggle of the
dreamer. Hanks is perfect in the lead role as the only sane one in the
asylum. Essentially his performance consists of reacting to the nuts
surrounding him, especially with his mother who asks why he should go to
college at all. “Because that’s what you do after high school!” screams
Shaun.
Even thought this movie is essentially a comedy, it accomplishes more in 82
minutes than most films that take hours on the screen to not accomplish.
Because this is script contains such well written characters, who were then
cast perfectly, Orange County is a film that will stand up to repeated
viewings, each time peeling away another layer getting closer to the heart
of the story.
Orange County is rated PG-13 for drug content, mild language, and some
sexuality.
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