Since You've Been Gone

With a simple, yet elegantly interwoven storyline, SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE entertains with comedy, emotion, and the subtle brilliance of David Schimmer.

Following a clique of high school friends around their 10 year reunion, the film takes up complex issues that include personal success, fleeting popularity, the loneliness and confusion of adulthood, and mixes them with 'kick me' signs, re-kindled romance, and an 80's cover band.

Familiar and unfamiliar actors give several perfectly nuanced and superb performances that add an unforgettable quaintness to the film. (In fact, these are the only major roles for main characters Heidi Stillman, Thom Cox, and David Catlin.) Cameos by John Stewart, Molly Ringwald, Marisa Tomei, a post-plastic surgery Jennifer Grey, and Schwimmer's mom also add to the light-hearted humor.

Between directing this film, his performance in KISSING A FOOL and his role in BAND OF BROTHERS, it's apparent that Schwimmer is nothing short of a genius (a fact recognized only by a handful of people, including Larry David).

A must own film.

This movie is a very entertaining. The writers nail the stereotypes that exist in everyone's high school class, and continue to exist 10 years later. Thank God they tend to disappear as we get older.

The writing is quick witted and doesn't dummy down. While it's star studded, it's not played up. It's one of those movies you'll sit and watch the credits, to see "What's that guy's name?" David Schwimmer is the perfect arrogant ass. Molly Ringwald adorable in her cameo.

The music is great for a quick glimpse back to the 80's.

I highly recommend finding a copy of it to view before you attend any reunion.

Personally, I really liked this movie. A lot of people didn't though. But, you do need to have the right sense of humor in order to like some of the jokes in the movie. Some of the humor is very dry, but then there are some jokes that had me laughing out loud. It is an off-beat comedy and some people need to realize that.

The whole thing is just about a high school reunion all of the many mishaps. Kind of like CAN'T HARDLY WAIT only it's at a high school reunion. Just one big party movie.

The jokes were well crafted and Hollywood favorite David Schwimmer does a half way decent directing job. There were small sections of the movie that I didn't care too much for, but other than a flopping one or two scenes, I really found this film enjoyable.

There is a gigantic all-star cast, and the only reason why Philip Rayburn Smith (who is the main character) probably didn't recieve star billing is because he still isn't very well known. But, still the cast is all-star and the film is highly entertaining.

SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE: 5/5.

Since You've Been Gone is a relatively decent film with a cast of relative unknowns with the exception of a few. Kevin is a doctor who attends his ten year high school reunion with his wife and best friend and to face the trauma of an incident that happened at his graduation. An unemployed, balding man and his psycho friend visit where they come in contact with a plane crash survivor/speaker who has a thing for the balding man. A woman in search of a man only to find herself in a funnily painful injury. David Schwimmer plays the class president, a conceited, quick witted jackass whom the psycho friend has a vendetta against. Lara Flynn Boyle is funny as a total psycho who falls for the psycho friend. Jon Stewart, Marisa Tomei, and Jerry Springer make cameos in the film. David Schwimmer is good as the guy who always finds himself prone to insulting signs on his back. Kevin comes to realize why the incident happened in the first place because of how he is towards people. Since You've Been Gone is definitely a lot stranger and a lot more offbeat than you might think.

This movie was fantastic.

The acting was terrific, from the high strung Electra Pollack (Laura Eason) to the arrogant Kevin MacEldowney (Phillip Rayburn Smith). Most of all, Grace Adler (Lara Flynn Boyle), the class psychotic.

Not as terrible as most reunion flicks this is one to watch.

8/10