Sophomoric Comedy Includes Three Good Performances

Rating: Null/10 (9 April 2005)

Two young performers (Emile Hirsch and Elisha Cuthbert) make this formulaic coming-of-age comedy worth watching. While the style of the film was screwball comedy, Hirsch and Cuthbert delivered effective naturalistic performances, avoiding the clichés of so many of the "over-the-top" Hollywood farces geared to the teen audience. The early scenes of the film were especially touching in the innocence and sweetness captured by the two performers. It is there that the love relationship begins to develop and where both Hirsch and Cuthbert shine in their roles. Another good performance is by Timothy Olyphant as the sassy, smooth-talking con artist and film producer. The film as a whole is filled with stupid, juvenile scenes and antics, especially the trip to Las Vegas. But the three principal actors made the film enjoyable and even memorable.