Rated: R

Rather, one does not know what to say... The movie is the very essence of a teenage wasteland film, and unless one is completely prepared for that beforehand, it is easy to get bowled over. No matter my thoughts, for example, on this movie at any given point, they were underscored with the desperate need to know: did suburban teenagers in 1999 really act like that?

I would not be surprised. Even though I live in the city and in the 2000s, and nothing I have thus far experienced in high school has ever nearly reached the level of the things that occur in this movie, I can recognize themes and scenarios through the thick smoke of hyperbole. Do I have to be responsible for the rest of my life? Do I have to be irresponsible? How do I show them I'm good enough? What the hell is going to happen in my future? Is love and respect—or even a decent lay—too frakking much to ask for? Where is the nearest joint?

It is a testament to 25 year-old writer-director Jess Manafort's formidable skill, that although there have got to be at least twenty important teenagers in this film, and although there is no way in hell you are going to remember all of their names, you still care about what is going to happen to each and every one of them (even when this translates to "I hope a car runs over that dillweed!"), and can keep each character's story straight with ease.

Tori (Leighton Meester) is both sick of and clinging to responsibility until her best friend Sylvia (Katrina Begin) finally persuades her to do shrooms while they are babysitting.

Fresh-out-of-middle-school Holly (Alexa Vega) just wants to show everyone and every boy that she's old enough and her ultra-quiet friend Lighty (Stella Maeve) seems to be enjoying the ride—although it's hard to tell for sure. Brianne (Melonie Diaz) can't bear to keep her new relationship with her best friend Dawn (Lyndsy Fonesca) as anything but a secret, and it's driving Dawn crazy. Stressed-out cheerleader Stacey (Marnette Patterson) is in the most pathetically broken relationship of her life and just wants to get out of it, but she's going to need a push to let go. And there is Lucy (Amber Heard) who is unsure of what she wants… from her boyfriend, for her friends, or for herself.

There are large spells during which it is hard to tell whether the movie is working spectacularly or failing just as grandly. Ultimately, however, this movie succeeds… so long as one isn't expecting, you know, a solid plot or anything: it's a character-centric movie, and it works as that as long as it is accepted for what it is. When all is said and done, it is a pretty damn entertaining movie. (It helps that most people are, generally speaking, hysterical when they are high. And this movie features a lot of high people.)

The performances are strong throughout, and nearly every one of them is memorable, but even with a stellar cast there are several particular standouts: Alexa Vega comes fully into her own and delivers a surprisingly wonderful performance; Stella Maeve's is equally layered. Brie Larson manages to steal every one of the few scenes that include her character Angie. Leighton Meester, and certainly Katrina Begin, portray two of the best tripped-out teenagers I have seen all year, on film or in real life. Melonie Diaz does a superb job in making her role as Brianne wonderfully striking and moving. The boys of the cast do well also: Shahine Ezell is brilliant as Eddie, Chris Marquette is hysterical as Felix, and Aaron Himelstein's portrayal of the secretly naive, overwhelmed Riley is touching (perhaps despite itself).

Wait. Haven't I just named about half the cast? Well, I already told you that it's an ensemble movie...

This Reviewer's Rating: 3 / 5

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."