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Interesting movie. Has some real thought provoking parts. The main female lead (Cook) is shown as having schizophrenia. Usually, movies show such people as evil and people to be feared, which is not accurate and only worsens the negative stigma of mental illness - but makes for money making movies.

Knowing a lot of the mental illness of schizophrenia, I can state that the producers of this movie have done a very good job of showing a real person with schizophrenia. Cook does a great job of showing that person.

Yes, movie is somewhat disjointed and the ending somewhat abrupt. But it's still a meaningful movie.

I Just finished watching Stateside and I got to say that I really enjoyed it. The plot really hit home for my girlfriend and I because I'm going to be going to boot camp for the Marines in a month, so we just happened to pick it up and were instantly locked in. Val Kilmer gives an amusing and extremely different performance as a Marine DI, he steals all of his scenes and his dialog with the recruits is hilarious. While I liked the film i'll admit i'm being a little biased since i'm going to enlist in the Marines, this movie is not for everybody. It's a good movie for men and women in the military who have to deal with being able to see the ones they love not as often as they'd like to. It's just a sweet romance movie that has real and down to earth dialog, that will remind anybody about those little dorky moments that lovers have and always remember.

This movie was in and out of Atlanta theaters in one week-what a shame! It doesn't deserve the short run and bad reviews. All I can say is, if you like romantic movies, try this one on DVD. Stateside has the kind of sweet story that the critics usually hate. It's refreshingly different from most romances. It avoids the typical formula. You know the one, where the girl and guy meet cute, fall in love during a musical interlude, break up, and get back together at the end, typically with the guy racing to the airport to catch the girl at the last minute before she boards her plane. Stateside reminded me of movies that I saw back in the sixties, like The Graduate. Of course, it isn't as good as The Graduate, but it has that kind of off-beat quality.

Some of the negative reviews focused on minor issues such as the slow start and continuity problems. Others complained that the dialog was too poetic, but to me that was a plus not a minus. Still others pointed out how unrealistic this kind romance would be in the real world. But haven't these people ever heard of "willing suspension of disbelief?" Besides, countless romantic stories have derived their drama from the fact that the guy and girl are so different from each other. And unlike most 'opposites attract' movies, Stateside doesn't shy away from showing how difficult it would be for these two to have any kind of long-term relationship.

These critics apparently missed the point of the movie. It is about a bittersweet romance that would never have happened if not for Dori's mental illness. Both Mark and Dori gave up something important in order to get something they desperately wanted. If Dori had not been mentally ill, she would have married some rock star or movie star. She had to give up that dream because now she is lucky to get any guy, much less a nice guy like Mark. Mark had to give up a lot, too. Before meeting Dori, he probably expected to fall in love with an average but mentally stable girl. He gave up that prospect in order to do something he would have previously thought impossible-have a relationship with a real pin-up girl.

Jonathan Tucker and Rachel Leigh Cook are outstanding as Mark and Dori, especially Cook. She plays such a sweet, innocent and guileless beauty that you have no trouble believing that Tucker's character could fall in love with her despite her mental illness. Cook strips away the veneer of civility and gamesmanship that we typically see in Hollywood romances. What she reveals is a very likable character.

By the way, the story is based on the director's own life. He was a rich kid who fell in love with a mentally ill actress. He did join the marines and was sent to Lebanon.

Stateside won't win any academy awards. It has its flaws, but it is an enjoyable movie with fine acting and appealing characters. I give it 7.5 out of 10.

"Stateside" is a quirky romantic comedy. Mark (Jonathan Tucker) is a prep school student with a strict father who sends him to the Marines; Dori (Rachael Leigh Cook) is an aspiring musician with a temper and mental problems. They do a good job of introducing us to the characters; both are quite likable.

The film picks up when our leads are falling in love. The comedy aspects are funny and the romantic aspects are cute. The film gets dramatic at times. In my opinion, too dramatic but the film-makers had things they wanted to say, and I think they wanted to make this a "bigger" film than just a romantic comedy.

The film has a great soundtrack and they got me in a great mood to start the film with Elvis Costello during the opening credits. I recommend "Stateside" for movie fans who want more to their romantic comedies.

In the 80's, the irresponsible teenager Mark Deloach (Jonathan Tucker) of a wealthy and powerful family causes an accident crashing his car and seriously wounding a priest and a school friend. The judge offers him the chance to join the Marines as alternative sentence. Later he meets the schizophrenic singer and actress Dori Lawrence (Rachel Leigh Cook) and they fall in love for each other. However, their love becomes almost impossible when he has to travel overseas and she worsens her mental illness.

I decided to see "Stateside" with no expectations, but I found a surprisingly good romance. Based on a true story, the situations are original and I really liked. Rachel Leigh Cook is very beautiful and charming, and it is her best performance among the many films of her filmography that I have seen. The nasty and expendable part of the plot is the training of the Marines, with offensive words and prejudice against Arabs and communists, making easy to understand the images we frequently see on TV of the abuses mainly against Iraqi prisoners. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Perfeitos no Amor" ("Perfect in Love")

"Stateside" is 'based on a true story' and tells the tale of a rich teenager who gets into trouble and is allowed to avoid prison by enlisting in the Marines; he falls in love with a disturbed young woman. We wander to five states (California, Connecticut, New York, North Carolina, and South Carolina) in this disjointed, smoky soap opera. The talented young actors do their best with the mess they are given.

GRADE = "C"

After a disastrous and very short run theatrical release, "Stateside" has been playing regularly on cable for over a year. Playing regularly is somewhat of an understatement as those with a digital cable package can pretty much find it on some channel any day and anytime. Fortunately the film is ideal for piecemeal viewing (watching a scene here and a scene there- not necessarily in sequence until you realize you have seen the whole thing) because it is nicely written and is actually more coherent and entertaining when viewed in little snippets. This is a nice way of saying the film lacks unity and that the whole is less than the sum of its parts. But the parts themselves are well worth viewing.

What you have here is an unorganized mix of disparate elements, each typically used by themselves to carry a movie. Start with the standard Freddie Bartholomew (Captains Courageous", "Lord Jeff" etc.) rich kid from a neglectful home, add a bit of reckless prep school teen drinking which injures a Priest ("Cruel Intentions"), plus a boot camp coming of age story ("Full Metal Jacket"), for your love interest insert a female rock star and actress with mental problems ("Francis" and "Girl Interrupted"), and then a return from the war as a disabled veteran ("The Best Years of Our Lives").

Although "Stateside" doesn't work as a whole package and sets the all-time record for credibility problems there is still a lot of entertaining stuff here. Jonathan Tucker is appealing in the lead role and actually brings some credibility to a character going through enough life changes for ten movies. Rachel Leigh Cook basically does her Ruthie character from "The Big Empty", who I suspect is pretty much her real life self. Her Dori character is supposed to suffer from schizophrenia, but if you don't know what that is going into the film, you won't understand it any better after viewing. Apparently the writer thinks anyone who is irreverent, impulsive, and moody must be schizo (then again maybe they are). But since Dori's psychological problems are irrelevant to the plot this doesn't really get in the way of the basic story.

Val Kilmer does a good impression of a R. Lee Ermy drill sergeant. Ermy himself has gotten too old for these parts but this allows the director to show a nice human side rather than a simple caricature. Although the lyrics for "Scotty Doesn't Know kept running through my head each time he was featured.

The most compelling performance is by Agnes Bruckner, playing the best-named character this decade, Sue "of the Dubervilles" Dubois. Bruckner's scenes sparkle and you rejoice every time she appears.

Bottom line, virtually everyone will find something to like somewhere inside "Stateside". It gives you basic training, prep school, girl rockers, mental cases, romance, DWI, hospitals, sex, mansions, and Agnes Bruckner.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

Oh boy. Where to start? First of all, I was mistaken to believe this was a romantic comedy. Stateside is completely void of both romance and comedy. It also seems to be missing a cohesive story, and good direction.

The story follows a young marine (Jonathan Tucker) who can't help but fall in love with a mentally ill musician (Rachael Leigh Cook.) As he spends time with her, her recovery begins to slow to the point where he is forced to sever contact. Will love conquer all? Believe me, by this point you won't care.

I found the story hard to follow as the movie stumbled forward. With a story this simple, the audience really shouldn't have to question what is going on and why. And how believable is love at first site in a mental institution? 'Oh, Hello. Sorry I squirt water on you from the broken water fountain… Will you marry me??' Give me a break.

I was shocked to find that this isn't director Reverge Anselmo's first movie. It has 'first time filmmaker' written all over it. The fault can't be put solely on the director though. This is an absolute wreck of a script, written by.. oh, look: Reverge Anselmo. OK, all the blame falls on him.

There is quite a fine conglomeration of talent gathered for this fiasco: Joe Mantegna, Val Kilmer, Ed Begley Jr, Penny Marshall, and Carrie Fisher all lend their faces to Stateside. All have small parts and try to lend credibility to the film. Ed Begley Jr did a good job with what he had. Val Kilmer however was very inconsistent. When he is yelling at the recruits he just seemed out of place. He wasn't a believable or natural military leader. However, when he slowed down to talk to the boys from his heart, he was quite good.

Jonathan Tucker does a good job as the lead, and Rachael Leigh Cook does a decent job as the mentally ill musician/actress. I just never bought into the relationship.

I really wish more time had been spent in the editing room prior to the films release. The story is interesting, but the way it unfolds is far too distracting to allow the audience to fall into a comfort zone and accept the story as told. The movie also feels very heavy. It really could have used a bit more humor to offset the dramatic tension caused by the marine's relationship with his father, and by his forbidden romance with his famous, mentally ill soul mate.

A rebellious young man from an affluent Connecticut family ends up in the Marines after a DUI car crash that cripples a priest. On leave, he meets a mentally disturbed young woman and falls instantly in love. Then he heads off for Beirut. I'm not giving away any more of the plot. This is an actor's movie, as the plot is practically nonexistent and what there is of it is stolen from about a dozen other movies. Jon Tucker plays the Marine and Rachel L. Cook is the girl of his dreams, as long as she's on Thorazine. Tucker is terrific, and Cook is, well, Cook. The radiant Agnes Bruckner plays their mutual friend, and tries to make the Marine understand that he cannot cure schizophrenia through love alone. Set back in time, when less was known about diseases like schizophrenia. Lots of great period music, and many familiar faces in the adult roles, like Val Kilmer as the drill sergeant, Joe Montegna as the Marine's dad, Ed Begleyt Jr. as the priest and Penny Marshall as the head nurse. Filmed in Connecticut, New York,, D.C. and the Carolinas. Worth a watch for the high level of acting. Just ignore the paper-thin, derivative plot.

I saw a prescreening of this lovely movie. It explores fresh exciting territory while telling an extremely realistic teen love story. When the leads sneak around and struggle to be together, it has the romance and fun of ROMEO AND JULIET. In other ways it reminds me of THE MAGDALENE SISTERS in that it tells a story that is important for people to see. However, just like in Magdalene Sisters the message doesn't interfere with the high level of entertainment. The mental illness doesn't take over the film. It just provides a unique obstacle that the lovers must get over to be together.

The acting is excellent and the all the characters are really alive, flawed,

passionate and interesting. All in all, this is a warm and funny movie.

Greatly enjoyed this film because it portrayed a great love story that grew between Rachael Leigh Cook,(Dori Lawrence) and Jonathan Tucker, (Mark Deloach). Mark Deloach came from a very rich family and his father had very little interest in Mark and when he got in trouble with a car accident and caused many problems, his father decided he should go into the Marine Corps. This film shows the very rough training that marines go through and Mark Deloach proves he can become a good marine and comes home to a very cold reception in his father's large mansion. Mark falls deeply in love with Rachael Cook despite the fact that she is a mental patient and all her professional nurses and doctors suggest that Mark stop seeing her and break off their relationship. This story clearly shows that if you love someone and cannot get them out of your mind night or day and really want them as soul mates to live with forever no matter who they are, don't miss out on getting married and love each other to death. Great Film and great acting by the entire cast.

I don't know if it matters to anyone, but the 'real life' model for this picture is supposedly Sarah Holcomb, a luminous young actress of the late 70's and early 80's. She played the 13 year old check out girl in 'Animal House' who befriends Tom Hulce (and passes out naked after dropping the bombshell of her age), and later played the Irish waitress Maggie in 'Caddyshack'. After that, she disappeared. I guess the movie explains why.

A Danny Holcomb is cast in the movie, and the credits thank an anonymous 'S.H.' Ms. Holcomb these days lives in deliberate obscurity far away from show business.

In 1983, Mark Deloach (Jonathan Tucker) is wounded as a Marine. In 1980, Hollywood singer/actress Dori Lawrence (Rachael Leigh Cook) suffers a mental breakdown. She goes to a mental hospital where she meets Mark. He's there to visit Sue Dubois (Agnes Bruckner) after they got into a dangerous car crash. Sue's mother (Carrie Fisher) is threatening to sue and put her daughter in the mental institution. The principal of their high school Father Concoff (Ed Begley, Jr.) is also severely injured in the incident. Mark Deloach is sent into the Marine Corps by his powerful father (Joe Mantegna) and the court. Sergeant Skeer (Val Kilmer) has to break down the rebellious Mark. Dori and Sue are released to a halfway house and become best friends.

Other than a few meetings, Mark and Dorri don't spend that much time together until fifty minutes. It's too long to start a romance and the chemistry suffers. It tries to be an Officer and a Gentleman. None of it is able to exceed the what it aspires to be. The two leads are capable of more and the story doesn't have enough tension. The story sets up some dark potential but in the end, it does nothing with them.

Stateside breaks the mold of teen love stories. Though it might not appeal to a mass audience of younger teens, this movie appeals to people ranging from young adults to baby-boomers and gen-x-ers who lived through this period. The cast is stellar, and the direction seems solid and the camera-work deliberate. The real-life Marine experience of director of Reverge Anselmo brings a sense of realism to the film that is often lacking in pictures about the military – which tend to be heavy with political rhetoric and are often written by people who experience wartime from Berkley CA.

This picture is enhanced by a spectacular soundtrack that compliments the film well. It's always a good sign for a film when major actors accept minor roles. Stateside finds Penny Marshall having an un-credited role as a nurse, and Carrie Fisher as Mrs. Dubios – a part which is concentrated in mostly one scene. Val Kilmer and Joe Mantegna combine for about 15 minutes of screen time.

The reviews for this movie were mixed. However, I find it impossible to change the channel when it comes on TV, and it's quickly climbing my short-list of favorite films. Clearly not everyone will like this Stateside. It does have continuity issues, and there are some dialogue and plot details that don't make sense until the second or third time you see it. And I agree that the ending is slightly abrupt. However, if you're looking for a romantic movie or a hidden gem drama, you can do a lot worse with an hour and a half of your life.

Quirky, fresh, unpredictable romance movie. I went to the Marines right out of high school and and I appreciated the authenticity the writer/director portrayed. Just like in the movie, five young intercity men in my Infantry Company were sent to the Marines instead of prison by some very intelligent compassionate judges. They became outstanding Marines. Two did not make it back. The dialog was right on and starkly honest; that's the way adolescent high school students and Marines talk and act. I saw this movie by accident on Amazon and the same evening purchased the DVD and I've watched it many times. It's worth a viewing, ignore the critics. What the hell do they know. I treasure the movie.

Having shared many conversations with Reverge Anselmo, I found him to be the honorable person portrayed in this wonderful film based on a time in his life. Both he and his film deserve high praise. With "Stateside" R. Anselmo brings the audience an intimate story with the ring of universal truth. Jonathan Tucker captures what I would imagine the young Anselmo to be, a young man of honor who grew up to be an honorable adult. I look forward to seeing future films from this talented writer/director, who presents glimpses of his interior with each project and who will meet with continued success telling stories that resonate with audiences.

By far her best roll yet! Rachael Leigh Cook is so lovable in this role it hurts. I've been collecting her movies recently. Maybe first noticed her in 'Blow Dry', then had to see her in "Nancy Drew" on the Big Screen, then picked up "Josie and the Pussycats" from Local Library. By then I'm Hooked, so any movie I can't Rent or Borrow from the Library I'll buy on Half.com just to see everything she ever played. Rachael was adorable in "Sally", but where I thought that was the epitome of understanding Mental Illness - this movie jumps Far Beyond into the world of a Talented Singer/Actress slipping into Schizophrenia.

The first few scenes are a bit confusing, as we are introduced to the Characters and set up the situation. But by the time the two young lovers meet, we are ready for the Love Affair of the Century. Can True Love survive years of separation, and Mental Illness? Can Imperfect Human Beings Love each other just as they are? Can people sacrifice their own gratification for the good of one they Love? If this filmed earned an "R" Rating, it is more for the Sexually Explicit Language than it's Nudity or Situations. The blunt talk is realistic for characters of this age. Overall, this is a very Moral Film about Love and Redemption. It left me More in Love with Rachael Leigh Cook, and More Romantic about Love!

If you're over 18 you're bound to be disappointed by this movie. It delivers nothing. It, actually, depresses me. The entire movie is about senseless dramas of stupidity and boredom. In spite of the celebrity cast, it does not take you anywhere emotional, enlightening, or even amusing. What's happening in Hollywood? What's happened to those genius brains? I like to watch movies because I like to escape from reality. However, with the help of Hollywood films, I unfortunately dump from the frying pan into fire. Sad, indeed. I should just stick to foreign films then.

when cook and tucker are talking. she's wearing a red dress and asks him something, then walks to grab a guitar and starts playing and singing. what is the name of that song and by what artist? it sounds familiar...it sounds like a great song and i really appreciate it if anyone can inform me.

moreover, as far as the movie itself is concerned, i though it was great and want to see it again. i was a bit distracted while watching the film the first time, thus i didn't get as good a feel for it as i would have liked to.

thank you! 1-8-05

I think all movies with plot developments that stretch a little bit should use the 'based on a true story' tag. With that you can get away with anything. What really happened in your true story? What did you shoehorn in there to make this point or that, or to throw viewers off the scent of trying to figure out who your actress girlfriend was?

Val Kilmer was the most pleasant surprise of the movie.

What was with the sequence where the rejected hero went drinking and hit on women with delightful facial pores and that had a predilection for taking shots of blue liquid and ended with a minor car accident with no consequences.

Stateside had plenty of blind alleys like that. You don't have to smack me over the head to demonstrate plot points but several times there were inserted scenes of characters doing everyday things that neither advanced the plot, nor developed the characters, nor conveyed a relevant tone. It recalled She's under the Influence except done sloppily or ineffectively.

The dialog was different. It had a spare poeticism that hit home at some points like when the father and the hero leave the courtroom. The dialog was stylized

atmposherics when coming out of the mouth of the Marine drill Seargeant. The dialog tried to convey too much complexity like when the worker who runs the group home explains why the hero can't see Dorie anymore. At all times, however, I could not escape hearing the voice of the screenwriter coming out of the mouths of each of the characters.

There were other examples of self indulgence. Like at the school dance where the hero was herded into a group photo with a bevy of negligible characters. He used a snapshot freeze frame device which served little emotional purpose except to perhaps recreate one of the filmmaker's favorite photos of himself.

What saved the movie for me were the scenes between the hero and Dorie. It felt genuine. When you create a new reality with someone, your language bends around that reality and the dialogue and performances conveyed that nicely.

I'm all for subtlety and experimentation and extending or having fun with clichés. This movie had all of those, but it seems that the filmmaker could stand to polish his storytelling craft a shade or two better.

Regarding identifying the mystery girl. Some possible hints:

The name Exene was tossed around in the apartment with the band before the implied gang bang. Like maybe the band the mystery girl was in had some sort of connection to LA Punk band X with Exene Cervenka?

The scene from the 'movie' Dorie was in seemed Bond like.

Evil Dead came up in a conversation, though it seemed like she wasn't in that movie. Then later he went to see Evil Dead. Maybe the mystery girl was in evil dead. Most people in that movie other than the chin guy didn't make too many movies after evil dead.