Not an all-time classic, but not at all bad

Rating: Null/10 (10 April 2000)

I am very surprised to read the numerous user reviews which rate this film as awful. I agree that it isn´t worthy of a Best Picture Oscar, and I also agree that it isn´t exactly ground-breakingly original. However, what it is is extremely well-observed and well-acted, and packed full of genuinely funny moments. Who could possibly suppress a smile at Lester Burnham´s drug-fuelled description of the film "The Re-animator"? Or indeed, the Colonel´s poe-faced request for a urine sample from his son? I have rarely laughed so often and so loudly in a cinema.
Instead of expecting a great drama, I went in expecting a comedy, and I wasn´t disappointed. I advise others to go with this same expectation, because I think it is as a comedy that this film works best. And as for those who have slated it, I think this is a slight over-reaction to a poor choice of Best Picture by the Academy. 7/10 or 8/10 would be about right, 0/10 definitely isn´t.