Orange County

In keeping with my resolution to do something new everyday, I watched Orange County today. I'm not sure I liked it, but I didn't dislike it at all. The soundtrack was sweet (you can't go wrong with Social Distortion and Brian Wilson). Jack Black is always funny. There were some great cameos (Chevy Chase, Ben Stiller, Lily Tomlin). However, the plot had some huge holes in it.

The characters are all pretty much one dimensional. The girlfriend is sweet, the brother is a stoner, the mother is a drunk, the father is a workaholic, the friends are macho risk-taking closet cases. The main character is basically a reincarnation of Salinger's Holden Calfield. He's bright, he sees things others can't see, he hates his environment (but then goes on a journey and realizes he's right where he wants to be).

The bottom line is that Orange County is not breakthrough. It's not an interesting social commentary. It's been done before...a lot. But it was also enjoyable.