CRAZY/BEAUTIFUL (2003)

This movie had potential as it started off with a dreamy voice saying “You can be anywhere when your life begins—when the future opens up in front of you…” accompanied by vignettes of dreamy summer days by the beach and boardwalk. There was more possibility as you follow the male lead (played by Jay Hernandez) as he wakes up early for school and his mother makes sure he is well fed even though their surroundings make it clear they don’t have a lot. The relationship between the mother and son is very sweet. And Jay Hernandez is all about sensual—he’s sexy but sweet and sincere with soft brown eyes and full lips—gorgeous, likeable and believable! There are one or two sexy sensual scenes such as when the teenage couple makes out in the red light of the photography development room and gets caught by a teacher. The weak link for me, though, is Kirsten Dunst and her role as the party girl gone bad due to her father’s inattention. I just don’t believe her or care about her and so my interest in the couple and what happens to them is lost. And I couldn’t bare the way her chin quivers when she is supposed to be on the verge of tears. It’s not completely her fault as there is little attention to why there is an attraction between this couple besides lust but a likeable actress could have made it believable. I also kept worrying about the party girls because of the way they dressed and how much they drank while driving, etc. Too much of a mom I guess to enjoy this one as sensual. Don’t get me wrong—a nice, light, likeable film if you are o.k. with Kirsten but not sensual.