Wanna know what I noticed? This is the third movie with Ryan Phillippe that included a cast member from "Party of Five." He was with Scott Wolf in "White Squall," Jennifer Love Hewitt in "I Know What You Did Last Summer," and now Neve Campbell in THIS lame ass movie. Weird, innit?
Okay, here are the problems with this movie: Ryan Phillippe as the lead... he couldn't hack it. He's not a horrible actor (though he annoyed the hell out of me in "I Know What You Did Last Summer"), but this wasn't his thing. The story (or lack thereof) sucked. I'm the first to say that plots are overrated, but you expect SOMEthing from a film like this. Neve Campbell was good, but totally unnecessary. It COULD have been a really good movie, but it seemed like there was no effort to MAKE it one.
There were really good performances by Heather Matarazzo, Salma Hayek, and Mike Myers (though he played more of a characature than a character), but it just wasn't enough. Supposedly, there are cameos all over the place, but I only saw one or two, and I ALWAYS have my eyes open for stuff like that. By the way, fans of "ER" and/or "NYPD Blue" will be happy to know that Sherry Stringfield is still working. She plays an accountant here. Or is it a secretary? Receptionist? Whatever.
This movie was written and directed by Mark Christopher who has written and directed movies in the past that I never heard of. I dunno, maybe he's a talented guy. I hear that this was a completely different movie before the Miramax boys got ahold of it.
Avoid "54,"
okay? Maybe you'll like the music, but that's about it... otherwise, just
watch "Boogie Nights" again.
Scale of
1-10: 3