Reel Critics
Clem Dominguez
“Orange County,” written by Mike White, is a fast-paced funny story
about Shaun Brumder (Colin Hanks) a high school senior trying to escape
from what he sees as the dreaded, superficially inhabited and
intellectually challenged Orange County. After losing one of his high
school buddies in an accident Shaun begins to think that there might be
more to life than partying and sun-filled days at the beach. He finds a
book in the sand written my a Sanford English professor and takes it as a
sign that he must attend Stanford University. He decides to give up
surfing and become a writer.
Lily Tomlin, the schools guidance counselor, advises Shaun to only
apply to Stanford University, she feels certain he’ll get in. Will he get
in?
While the Orange County lifestyle is spoofed, the location is not
really what the movie is about. What’s really important is how his
dilemma is depicted. I think it’s a very true to life portrayal of the
period of a young person’s life when they have to make that decision on
what to do after high school.
What makes the movie so good is the lovable well-meaning characters
Shaun is surrounded by. Shaun’s beautiful and supportive girlfriend
Ashley (Schuyler Fisk), Lance (Jack Black) his drugged out loser brother,
his drunken neurotic mother, the Mexican maid, Shaun’s stoner surfer
buddies and his money-hungry father (John Lithgow), who is doing it all
for his children yet hardly knows they’re alive.
There are multiple schemes that are attempted to get Shaun into
Stanford. Each is very funny.
There are cameo appearances by Chevy Chase and Ben Stiller that add
little to the story and could have been handled by lesser-known actors.
Kevin Klein, on the other hand, did add a lot to the story as the English
professor Shaun idolizes.
All in all it’s a very warm and funny movie. It’s also a chance to see
Tom Hank’s son and Sissy Spacek’s daughter in their first significant
acting roles. I give it an “B+.”
* CLEM DOMINGUEZ, 57, is an aspiring screenwriter and film fanatic.
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