Orange County (2002)

Director:

Jake Kasdan

Writer (WGA):

Mike White (written by)

Release Date:

11 January 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

It's not just a place. It's a state of mind.

Plot:

A guidance counselor mistakenly sends out the wrong transcripts to Stanford University under the name of an over-achieving high schooler.

Plot Keywords:

Guidance Counselor | Writer | Transcript | Stanford University | Dysfunctional Family

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Colin Hanks	...	Shaun Brumder
Jack Black	...	Lance Brumder
Schuyler Fisk	...	Ashley
Bret Harrison	...	Lonny (as Brett Harrison)
Kyle Howard	...	Arlo
R.J. Knoll	...	Chad (as RJ Knoll)
Catherine O'Hara	...	Cindy Beugler
Mike White	...	Mr. Burke
John Lithgow	...	Bud Brumder
Lily Tomlin	...	Charlotte Cobb
George Murdock	...	Bob Beugler
Lillian Hurst	...	Lupe
Chevy Chase	...	Principal Harbert
Olivia Rosewood	...	Dana
Carly Pope	...	Tanya

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for drug content, language and sexuality.

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:PG | Germany:12 | Netherlands:AL | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:12A | UK:12 (video rating) | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

California Institute of Technology - 1200 E. California Boulevard, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The web address written on Shaun's keyboard (seen while he is writing at the beginning of the movie) is 'www.thrashermagazine.com', the site of "Thrasher", a monthly publication mainly devoted to skating and surfing.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Shaun goes to ask his father for help in getting into Stanford, his father is wearing a grey sweater. A short while later he is wearing a black shirt.

Quotes:

Cindy: So I married Bob, for you! I had sex with Bob four times for you! So how can you call me a bad mother?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in North Hollywood (2001) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Love and Mercy

Best comedy I've seen in ages.

I have laughed so hard or so frequently in so long, too long. Orange County is quite possibly one of the best comedies of the past few years. I absolutely love it. To be honest I had little faith in Jake Kasdan after Zero Effect (which had Zero Effect on me) but this movie shows he has a real sense of humor and he balances it perfectly with outrageous characters and an untypically good-natured comedy plot.

Shaun Brumner (Colin Hanks in a wacky performance) is refused entry to Stanford University because his dunderheaded College Counsellor mailed them the wrong the transcripts. He recruits his slobbish brother (an even wackier Jack Black) and his girlfriend to help him in increasingly desperate and far-fetched methods of convincing Stanford to reconsider. It may sound like a dumb story but the characters and situations surrounding it provoke the maximum amount of laughter.

The two leads are particularly impressive and show natural comic genius that makes me beg for more from these characters. Keep a look out for loads of cameos from Chevy Chase, Harold Ramis, Ben Stiller and Kevin Kline. And it's loads better than that crappy O.C. TV show.

The DVD is in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby 5.1 sound. The extras are great with a commentary from Kasdan, deleted scenes which actually should have stayed in the movie and loads of TV spots with scenes especially created. You must get this. Everybody needs to laugh and laugh you will.