Society’s standards for rudeness
and crudeness were trampled by Something About Mary and
American Pie.
In the aftermath many films have tried to jump on the
bandwagon. These movies succeed occasionally. They make us
cringe, and yes, sometimes we laugh. Throwing seminal fluid or
vomit into a movie doesn’t always make a movie funny. Being able
to predict the next line of dialog or the next film to be
spoofed is not entertaining. Orange County unashamedly
goes for the sight gags i.e. fat guy in whitey tighties, urine,
and vomit. It does it with originality though.
Mike White has come up with a
great character in Shaun Brumder (Colin Hanks). Brumder is a
high school surfer boy who finds a book titled Straightjacket
by Markus Skinner. This book changes his life and Shaun decides
that he wants to become a writer and attend Stanford University
to study with Skinner. Due to the sheer incompetence of his
college guidance counselor (Lily Tomlin) Shaun is not admitted
to Stanford. Through the luck of an acquaintance Shaun manages
to get a member of the board of Stanford to meet him at his
home. Shaun’s socially challenged family can’t get themselves
together for the hour that the guests are there. Between Shaun’s
alcoholic mom (Catherine O’Hara), Lance his druggie deadbeat
brother (Jack Black), and his wheelchair confined drooling step
dad Bob; Shaun just can’t get a break. In a last ditch effort
Shaun drives the three hours to Stanford to talk to the Dean of
Admissions himself.
Orange County has its
actors to thank for pulling this story off. The movie is at its
best when Jack Black is on the screen. He reminds me of the late
Chris Farley with his over the top humor and self deprecating
scenes. Colin Hanks is great in a role that seems eerily similar
to the roles that his father Tom Hanks started with (they seemed
to have worked for him). The film is stuffed full of cameos from
older comedians to some who are just now realizing their comedic
potential.
I loved the
ride that Orange County took me on from one scene of
absurdity to another. White ended the movie with a quick moral
lesson, like a bow on a fantastically wrapped present. When
Orange County is so much fun, why go to Stanford?
The movie is
vibrant and the sound is as clear as a bell. The Widescreen
version is fantastic. The main menu is fast moving and can be a
little confusing at first. I sat for a moment before I realized
that I was looking at the menu. I felt that the two screens
within the menu give away some of the great cameos in this
movie.
The
Audio
Dolby Digital
-English 5.1 Surround
-English Dolby Surround
-French Dolby Surround
This DVD has a
great soundtrack that sounds awesome on a surround sound system.
The
Extras
-English Subtitles
-Menus
-Scene Selection
-Theatrical Trailer: It's great. I
laughed during the preview. It has some great cuts that give us
an appetite for the movie without giving away all the jokes or
the storyline.
-15 Interstitials: These are
basically short previews or commercials for the movie that were
filmed for MTV. Many of them weren’t used in the actual film,
so it’s almost like more deleted scenes. They're hilarious
-Commentary by Director Jake
Kasdan and Writer Mike White: It revealed some interesting facts
about the movie hint: Jack Black wore a wig for Orange County. I
prefer to hear some of the actors talk along with the director
and or writer.
-4 Deleted Scenes:
These are
always my favorite. I would have preferred a Director's
Commentary here as to find out why they were taken out.
Overall
I bought this
DVD because I loved the movie. It's a great DVD to have around
for when you have some friends over. Pop this in and let them
see the Interstitials I'll bet that they'll go ahead and ask you
to play the whole movie.
