Orange County

Directed by Jake Kasdan, Orange County follows high schooler Shaun Brumder (Colin Hanks) as he’s forced to go to extreme lengths after his incompetent guidance counselor sends the wrong transcript to his college of choice. Filmmaker Kasdan, working from Mike White’s script, has infused Orange County with a fast-paced and persistently affable feel that does prove awfully difficult to resist, and it’s clear, certainly, that the entirely watchable vibe is perpetuated by the efforts of a uniformly appealing roster of talented performers – with Hanks’ personable turn matched by a periphery cast that includes Schuyler Fisk, Jack Black, Harold Ramis, and John Lithgow. (And this is to say nothing of the veritable cavalcade of cameo appearances.) It’s disappointing to note, then, that Orange County‘s hold on the viewer wavers fairly prominently as it enters its erratic midsection, and there’s little doubt, ultimately, that the movie can’t quite justify its already-scant 82 minute runtime (although, to be fair, one’s interest is buoyed on a regular basis by standout sequences, including Black’s slacker character’s efforts at seducing a mousy college employee). The overly sentimental final stretch ensures that Orange County ends on something of a lackluster note, which effectively does cement the picture’s place as a passable yet entirely forgettable piece of work.

**1/2 out of ****