Rating: 
Summary: Amiable Teen Comedy
Review: Colin Hanks (son of Tom) plays a high school senior in Orange County, California, who is determined to go to Stanford. So determined, in fact, that he applies nowhere else. He's stunned when he doesn't get in and finds out that his counselor accidentally sent the wrong transcript. Dealing with this disappointment as well as coping with his flaky family sends him over the edge. He decides unwisely to allow his druggy brother (Jack Black) to drive him to Stanford and help him gain admittance.ORANGE COUNTY definitely has some bright spots, including a likeable lead in Colin Hanks. Jack Black is also quite funny, although his character is often too over the top to match the tone of the movie. He reminds me of an "Animal House" outcast. Finally, the classroom scenes featuring writer Mike White (he also wrote Chuck & Buck and The Good Girl) are hilarious. Unfortunately, the rest of the movie is only sporadically funny, especially the scenes with his family. Catherine O'Hara (Home Alone) plays his boozy mother who married an elderly wheel-bound chair man, Bob, in order to maintain her wealthy lifestyle. She also argues with her Hispanic maid and forgets to give Bob his pain medication. Not funny! The tone of the film is also uneven, veering from broad gross-out humor to sensitive scenes. The ending is particularly incongruous. In addition, much of the supporting cast (e.g., Lily Tomlin, John Lithgow, Chevy Chase) are sorely underused. The ads for ORANGE COUNTY (many of which are included here) portrayed it as a parody of faceless suburbia, but the movie really doesn't pursue that angle, settling instead for routine teen comedy jokes. In the end, however, it's hard to dislike this movie. It provides a few chuckles and has some likeable performances. If you like teen comedies, then you'll probably think that this movie is ok. EXTRAS: Lots of deleted scenes, many of which are funnier than the stuff that actually made it into the movie. Also includes a director and writer commentary.
Rating: 
Summary: I literally fell asleep on this film.
Review: Shaun (Colin Hanks) wants to go to Stanford College so bad but has found out he wasn't accepted. So his loser brother, Lance (Jack Black), who likes to walk around in his underwear, decides to drive him there one night for registration. Of course, now it is 10:30pm so they can't really see the Dean until tomorrow morning. Lance decides to sneak into the Dean's office to put his brothers name on the computer, but instead, he gets caught, makes out with the secretary and causes a fire. Meanwhile Shaun goes to visit the Dean at his house. Cast also includes Catherine O'Hara, Chevy Chase, Lily Tomlin, John Lithgow and Kevin Kline. Don't ask me why, but i got a feeling we are going to see more of Jack Black and another scene stealer, Kyle Howard. A film so pointless and so bad they had to make 16 different trailers for this film all included on this DVD. There are also four deleted scenes and an audio commentary by Director Jake Kasdan and Writer Mike White. I literally feel asleep on this film but with Lily Tomlin and Kyle Howard, I keep one eye open.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable movie -- nothing phenomenal, but certainly decent!
Review: I am not sure what the worship of Jack Black is all about -- a lot of people seem to think that comedy just begins and ends with this guy. He does a fine job in the role, but I personally don't see what all the fuss over him is about. I suppose he appeals to the same crowd that loves MTV's "Jackass" and the like. That's cool. He reminds me a bit of John Belushi in "Animal House" -- crude, crass, fat, slovenly. I just don't fall over laughing because of it. It's amusing, but not hysterical. As for the movie, it was fun to watch and didn't disappoint me at all. Colin Hanks is very likeable and anyone who's ever just had a day where EVERYTHING possible went wrong can identify with his pathetic, tortured, resigned feelings throughout much of the movie. Schuyler Fisk was a refreshing departure from the stunning beauties usually cast in the "girlfriend of the lead actor" roles. She's got a wholesome, natural attractiveness and her character was fantastic -- very empathetic and selfless. I thought Catherine O'Hara and John Lithgow did a wonderful job as the dysfunctional, self-absorbed parents. Smaller roles such as those by Lily Tomlin and Kevin Kline were also terrific. However, I thought Chevy Chase was completely wasted in his pittance of a role as the principal. Clocking in at a mere 82 minutes (and I presume that includes the credits' running time) this is just barely a MOVIE, if judged by length alone. The only recent major film I know of that ran shorter was "K-Pax" which was an embarrassing 75 minutes. If you can pick this up previously-viewed ..., it's a good lighthearted addition to your DVD collection, I think. Otherwise, eh... :)
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Movie
Review: I am not a fan of Jack Black usually but I thought his performance in this movie was excellent as the non-motivated, down trodden but big-hearted brother who just wants to help his brother Shaun (played by Colin Hanks) get into Stanford. Shaun dreams of being a writer and wants nothing more than to flee his dysfunctional life in Orange County for Stanford University. I think that Colin Hanks gives the character Shaun a well rounded typical, easy to identify with, down earthyness that is needed for the character to shine. This movie is usually lumped in with teen comedies...and yes it stars teens and is funny but that is just the surface of this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Orange County
Review: Ok, Well the first time I watched this movie it was about 1:00 a.m. and at that time of the morning alot of things are funny that normal people don't think are funny. However the second time I watched it I was a little more coherent and didn't think it was quite so comical. I would recommend that if you want a good comedy then watch this early in the morning and you will fell like you got your moneys worth. It is definately worth watching at least once.
Rating:
Summary: cute and funny
Review: hey, isn't this how tom hanks started out? starring in not-great comedies but being charming and winning us over. this movie is still pretty funny and touching. jack black is hilarious! also in "high fidelity" which is a wonderful movie
Rating: 
Summary: Gotta get out of this place, dude
Review: When we're around the 18 - 23 range, don't we all want to get out of the county and same old house that we've known all our life? Shaun does. He's real smart and has a strong urge for becoming a writer one day. He wants to go to a certain university that's far away, just to escape Orange County, his drunken mom, wacky brother, etc. But he'll soon find out that getting what you want isn't always easy. "Orange County" manages to be hilarious (the mindless antics of Jack Black are what REALLY makes the movie) and meaningful (I don't know about you, but I know I can sure relate to wanting to get out of the same tainted place I've known all my life) at the same time. Not to mention that the cast (John Lithgow, Catherine O'hara, Jack Black, and some rising stars) is pretty much perfect for the roles that they play in the film. However, the special features, while decent, could've been better. It has a scene selection, four deleted scenes, the theatrical trailer, interstitials, and commentary by the director and writer. That's good enough, but where are the interviews with the cast, the behind the scenes bloopers, and so on? Nonetheless, the bottom line is that "Orange County" is a great movie that will provide you entertainment for years to come if you add it to your collection. For that reason, it's definitely recommended that you add it to your collection ASAP.
Rating:
Summary: You've gotta' love it :)
Review: This movie was genuinely funny. When I saw it in the store I was a little skeptical, but after watching it I was rolling. It's has just enough silliness and dumb Jack Black gags (you gotta' laugh even if you don't want to :)) with an actual story line and pretty good acting (not to mention some great cameos such as Chevy Chase, Lily Tomlin, Ben Stiller, and a few more) that was solid for the most part. I was very pleasantly surprised and would recommend it to anyone. Like I said, even if you don't want to, you gotta' love it:)
Rating:
Summary: A teen comedy which will actually make you LAUGH!
Review: "Orange County" has a star-studded cast esemble, a great script, and a comical story. PLOT SUMMARY: In "Orange County", Shaun Brumder (Colin Hanks--yes, TOM HANKS'S son), has an easy life in Orange County, California. Shaun spends most of his days surfing with his three best buds who enjoy getting wasted and catching the highest waves possible. When one of his friends suddenly dies while surfing in a freak storm, Shaun realizes that life is short...especially after he finds a book in the beach sand, written by the famous Stanford University professor, Marcus Skinner (Kevin Kline). This leads Shaun into wanting to become a writer, and wanting to attend Stanford University, so he could take one of Skinner's classes. However, the only problem is that Shaun's dysfunctional family doesn't want him to go to Stanford. His mom, Cindy Beugler (Catherine O'Hera), who got remarried to an old man, Bob Beugler (George Murdock), wants him to go to a college that's closer to home. His filthy rich dad, Bud Brumder (John Lithgow), who got remarried to a very unfaithful younger woman, claims Shaun doesn't need to become a writer and that being an author doesn't "get you rich". So this leaves Shaun to take matters into his own hands. Shaun applies to Stanford, anyway. When his school councelor sends the wrong transcript and application to Stanford, Shaun gets rejected. Shaun can't accept this, so when his wasted older brother, Lance Brumder (Jack Black), suggests they take a road trip to the school to try to prove to the school that he is Stanford material, Shaun takes this suggestion seriously. So Lance ends up driving Shaun and Shaun's girlfriend, Ashley (Schuyler Fisk), on a hilarious road trip to Stanford, so that Shaun can hopefully get accepted into the school...and Shaun will do whatever it takes, unkowningly that his family and friends want him to stay home, because they care about him. OVERALL THOUGHTS: I thought "Orange County" was extremely hilarious, original, and clever. It has got a fantastic script and some excellent performances by the entire cast. Colin Hanks is convincing and appealing in his role...he definitely looks like a younger version of Tom. But Jack Black steals the show. The film is fast-paced, and just plain funny. The DVD is nicely packaged, with some deleted scenes, commentaries, and more. I highly recommend "Orange County". Score:
98/100
A+
Rating:
Summary: A Halarious Comedy
Review: This is a movie that when you watch you can relate to it so mauch because we all siblings or someone who screws everything up for us. This movie will make you piss your pants, with Jack Black's halarious comedic performance mixed with the seriousness of Tom Hanks' very own son Colin Hanks(Roswell). I hope you ENJOY this movie as much as i have!!!
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