Drive Me Crazy

I wasn't expecting this. I could say I was engaged all the way through, though it did have its stretches. Adrian Grenier was a true movie star in this, which was I think his second film ever. Melissa Jone Hart was super attractive as the shy next door type. This was a great time, I really truly enjoyed this movie.

The story is about next door neighbors in high school who were best friends when they were young. They agree to renew their friendship to make their crushes jealous. In the process, they fall for each other.

I don't know, everything about this movie was nearly perfect. Not sure why. In almost every aspect it could be seen as an average movie at best. But it blew me away. The soundtrack is nostalgic 90s music with Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. They definitely knew what they were doing here. In the process, they created a sweet, entertaining, cool, entrancing, and engaging film. I couldn't ask for more!

Don't see it if you don't want to. I highly highly would recommend it, but that's just my taste.

8 stars

I went to this film expecting it to be just a formula teen film. It does have formula to it -- such as ending with the big dance -- but it actually has some interesting ideas too. It is about the images that people hide behind, the distortions that they manufacture to escape from painful reality.

One symbolic scene takes place in a carnival fun house with mirrors that twist and pull reflections into any shape the person wants. This of course is the metaphor for what is happening with all the characters. Another interesting bit of symbolism is the MTV-like video showing the zombie-like behavior of the high school in-crowd compared to images of animals and Nazi rallies.

Yes, it's a teen romantic comedy, but it actually has some real thought in it, and the talented cast play characters that show some depth. The film is a pleasant surprise.

The non-director's cut left out many needed flashback sequences that helped developed the character's more thoroughly. For instance, the electocutes were orginally named pink bitches. Also, a very underrated sequence was ray's mockumentary that implied that high school students at basketball games were no different than nazi germany. when the in-crowd makes fun of him nicole, points out "hey, he's going to win so many mtv video awards and you're going to do nothin" or something to that effect. The actual director's cut is a mere four hours and actual breaks the movie down into a three part series not unlike godfather. The first follows the lives of their parents before the divorce and cancer in small industrial city. The second is hambone and nicole's early years as up to their breakup in seventh grade. The producers showed us the last but since prequels are so popular these days hopefully the earlier drive me crazy's will come out in the next few years. look for mary kate olsen to play a young nicole, not ashley >

Nicole Maris (Melissa Joan Hart) is the popular girl in school. Chase Hammond (Adrian Grenier) is the activist troublemaker. It's their senior year. The next door neighbors and former friends don't get along any more. The centennial of the school is coming up. She and her friends are planning the prom. He and his friends are causing mayhem. Nicole is rejected by clueless jock Brad in the traditional popular pairing in favor of true love for a cheerleader from another school. Chase is dumped by girlfriend Dulcie (Ali Larter) for an animal activist. Nicole comes up with a scheme to date Chase to make Brad jealous. Chase accepts it to make Dulcie jealous.

Hart and Grenier are photogenic early twenty somethings with plenty of charisma. They bring a nice appeal to this teen high school dramedy. Despite being best known for the popliscious Britney Spears song, it takes a couple of deep dives. It does leave the movie uneven in tone at times. This is nothing ground breaking but it's passable for the genre. The two leads make it work.

Well, the plotline was predictable, however, Drive me Crazy is a highly entertaining teenage romp. The dialogue is witty, the theme is good-spirited, and, as in every teen movie, the soundtrack is great.

The film has its flaws, however, particularly in Melissa Joan Hart, one of the worst actresses of our time. Thanks to her, an almost entirely likeable character is ruined. Her cute lines are recited flatly, and she adds no wit or life to the film. However, I was very impressed with the actor portraying Nicole's project, Adrian Grenier. His looks and intelligent delivery make the entire film worth seeing.

Overall, a cute and cheery romance that does not feature the head cheerleader nor the lowest of the low geek- it presents it's characters and storyline in a fun, believable way, and it'll leave you loving every minute of it.