Orange County

Theatrical Release Date: 2002 01 11 (USA)

UPC: 097363359241

Studio: Paramount

MPAA Rating: PG13   Contains:[Adult Situations, Profanity, Substance Abuse, Sexual Situations, Suitable for Teens]

Summary: Some cast and crew from NBC's highly acclaimed, little-seen series Freaks and Geeks reunite for this teen comedy that also marks the first starring role for Tom Hanks' son, Colin. The younger Hanks plays Shaun Brumder, a high schooler eager to propel himself out of the land of surf bums and ranch homes to which the film's title refers. He's had his sights set on Stanford ever since he read the works of professor Marcus Skinner (Kevin Kline), and his transcript is stellar enough to gain him admission. Shaun is understandably furious, then, when he receives a rejection letter in the mail; after some detective work on his part, he realizes that his flaky counselor (Lily Tomlin) mistakenly sent the university the wrong papers. It's up to him to get to Stanford within 24 hours to set the record straight -- literally -- and he enlists the help of his slacker brother Lance (Jack Black) to do so. Orange County co-stars Catharine O'Hara and John Lithgow as Shaun and Lance's slightly unhinged parents; the film was directed by Jake Kasdan and written by Mike White, both of whom contributed to several episodes of Freaks and Geeks. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

Category: Comedy

Features: ccWidescreen version enhanced for 16:9 TVs
Dolby Digital: English 5.1 Surround, English Dolby Surround, French Dolby Surround
English subtitles
Menus
Scene selection
Theatrical trailer
15 interstitials
Commentary by director Jake Kasdan and writer Mike White
4 deleted scenes

Orange County

Format: DVD

Release Date: 06/18/2002

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, DDS Dolby Digital Surround

Runtime: 82 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French

Subtitles: English

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side #1 --
1. Dear Mr. Skinner
2. Opening Credits
3. Waiting for the Letter
4. Mrs. Cobb
5. Dad's House
6. Tanya
7. The Gantners
8. Lance's Big Idea
9. Mona
10. Dean Don Durkett
11. Back at the Admissions Office
12. Run Away
13. The Party
14. Chance Meeting
15. An Expert Escape
16. Back Home
17. Another Letter

Michael Hastings

Director Jake Kasdan's shaggy, haphazard teen comedy scores points for its likable (if miscast) leads and some inspired comic situations, but it's hard to think of the film as anything more than a missed opportunity. Orange County's scant 81-minute running time may provide some clues as to why: The best jokes in Mike White's mildly subversive script were most likely left on the cutting-room floor to avoid an "R" rating. What's left is a hodgepodge of gags about sex, substance abuse, and class privilege, some of which are spot-on in lampooning Southern Californian affluence, while others feel half-baked and perfunctory. Kasdan shoves the film along at a sprightly pace, but the economy comes at a price: The quick cutting and frequent close-ups rob County of its atmosphere and style, and most every role feels like an extended cameo. Even the inspired supporting work by Jack Black, Kevin Kline, and Catharine O'Hara fails to make an impression. On the plus side, the film's wall-to-wall pop/rock soundtrack -- a prerequisite for an MTV Films release -- makes room for some unexpected pleasures, including several sun-kissed Brian Wilson tracks and even a running parody of Crazy Town's corny hit single, "Butterfly." ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Daniel Farber  Actor 
Mike White  Actor 
Carly Pope  Actor 
Monica Keena  Actor 
Scott Rudin  Producer 
Herbert W. Gains  Executive Producer 
Adam Schroeder  Executive Producer 
Van Toffler  Producer 
Mike White  Screenwriter 
Jake Kasdan  Director 
Scott Aversano  Producer 
Michael Andrews  Composer (Music Score) 
David Gale  Producer 
Colin Hanks  Actor 
Jack Black  Actor 
Catherine O'Hara  Actor 
Schuyler Fisk  Actor 
John Lithgow  Actor 
Harold Ramis  Actor 
Jane Adams  Actor 
Garry Marshall  Actor 
Dana Ivey  Actor 
Chevy Chase  Actor 
Lily Tomlin  Actor 
George Murdock  Actor 
Leslie Mann  Actor 
Kyle Howard  Actor 
RJ Knoll  Actor 
Bret Harrison  Actor 

Country: USA