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.