Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
Shaun Brumder is a local surfer kid from Orange County who dreams of going to Stanford to become a writer and to get away from his dysfunctional family household. Except Shaun runs into one complication after another, starting when his application is rejected after his dim-witted guidance counselor sends in the wrong form.
Orange County is a mildly charming teen comedy with a familiar premise — a misfit kid trying to escape his dysfunctional roots for a prestigious college — that follows a fairly predictable path. The plot is thin and episodic, relying on a series of escalating mishaps rather than genuine dramatic depth. The acting is a bright spot, with a likable Colin Hanks in the lead and strong comic support from Jack Black and a roster of cameos that elevate the material. Cinematography is functional but unremarkable, with little visual ambition. The film doesn't bring much that's new to the teen comedy genre and its resolution feels rushed and convenient. Overall it's an amiable, watchable film but not a particularly distinctive one.