Caffeinated Clint
The finger hovers about the stoop button as the film begins. Yet, instead of moving closer and closer to the point of depressing, it backs away – ultimately opening up the playing field to the at-first unappealing player.
Gregory Smith, Stephanie Sherrin, Malik Yoba, Julie Bowen, Nicole Camille Richie, Caitlin Wachs, Emy Coligado, Crystal Celeste Gant, Chris Morris, Alex Anfanger, Adam Arkin, George Wendt, Andrew Shaifer, Rosanna Arquette, Elizabeth Perkins, Charles Shaughnessy, W. Earl Brown, Kim Coles, Samantha Mathis
Don’t judge a film by its DVD sleeve. Words for a reviewer to live by.
The finger hovers about the stoop button as the film begins. Yet, instead of moving closer and closer to the point of depressing, it backs away – ultimately opening up the playing field to the at-first unappealing player.
And boy, does it kick goals.
OK, so we’re not talking about bringing John Hughes out of hiding just to see the thing, nor are we recommending they slap a “for those that liked American Pie” sticker on its cover – but what can be said about film is that it’s much smarter, much funnier and much better written that you’d expect it to be. Heck, it’s probably better than it needs to be.
Granted, “Kids in America” was never going to set the world – or box office, for that matter –on fire. Though it may be playing for gut-busting highly referential laughs, its organs are purely political: yep, it’s a teen film with a message. And we all know how hard it is to think when tanked, right?
Loosely based on the true tales of unfairly-treated schoolers, Josh Stolberg’s film fixes on a class rebel, Holden (Gregory Smith) and his mixed bunch of followers (a fat guy, a gay guy, a cheerleader, a preachy African-American, a hippie chick – you get the picture) who decide to take on their terribly unfit to principal, school leader (Julie Bowen), whose suspending students left right and centre for the most ridiculous of deeds. One girl is sent home because she’s preaching safe sex – and plans to hand out condoms to her fellow students – whilst another
There’s some real fun to be had here – mostly, in the witty banter between the characters, but also the many film references that the film incessantly refers to. From “Sixteen Candles” to “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”, “Say Anything” and um, “Grease 2”, it’s a film that’s obviously been written by an out-and-out film nut (Stolberg and Andrew Schaifer wrote it). And though it doesn’t make a lot of sense why these noughties’ kids know so much about the films of yesteryear – they’re hardly film school students, after all – it seems to work.
In addition, the spunky young cast are also giving it their best – in particular, former “Everwood” star Gregory Smith, who proves he has got a little more inside of him than introverted musician types. In this, he’s the polar opposite of his TV persona, though no less likeable, and no less identifiable. He’s backed by a strong supporting cast – including cutie Caitlin Wachs, Malik Yoba and “Ed” fave, Julie Bowen, playing a very different sort of her than she’s use to – that seem to be all having a ball, and determined to give it their all.
The only downfall of “Kids” is that, besides the fact that it runs way too short, it seems deficient of a third act. There’s a real race to the finish line at around the one-hour mark, and it’s not long before we’re offered an over-rushed and unsatisfying conclusion to what’s made out to be a rather big build up. Did they run out of money? Did the studio wave the ‘enough’s enough’ banner? Did the wind sweep up the last 30 pages of the script? Who knows, whatever the case, there doesn’t seem to be much of an ending here.
As it is, “Kids in America” is a fairly well written, and mostly funny, teen film that doesn’t deserve to be occupying the bottom shelf of the weekly rentals area, but probably will.
No Extras.
Rating : 
Reviewer : Clint Morris
