If you read the critics reviews, you'll believe this film is just dribble. In fact, it's a very deep film delving into the high school memories of Henry McCarthy. It's a story about going back to the roots of ones hometown and facing the reality of what time has brought.

It's a very relatable film and story for many who were underdogs in high school. The cast was exceptional, especially Winona Ryder and Chevy Chase who are usually in low rated films nowadays. The story is very well written for an almost unknown underrated film. It's definitely enjoyable and will bring up familiar memories of your own high school days.

Which could be a description of the main character ... not. There is quite a bit of suspend of disbelieve here, but there is also quite a bit of realness in it too. The mix is done pretty good and the actors are amazing too. It's nice to see Wynona in a decent role again (if you don't count the short Star Trek thing).

Then again, after watching the TV show Lost, I can't help but seeing those guys everywhere. And there is actually one of them here. I guess he did the movie in-between, as a relaxing exercise. Next for this Dude? Mission Impossible (4),if IMDb has it right on his site. The main actor is not really that engaging, but he does a good job portraying the man he is supposed to be. A decent effort and a movie that will "click" with a few people more than it does with others (no that's not a Lost reference!)

This is a light comedy. Henry McCarthy (Mark Polish) is an author of some renown. He has written a fictional book about his High School years, although in reality it is about his own experiences with some name changes. There is a bunch of first person narration in the film which are actual readings from the book. The names of the characters he reads don't match up with those they refer to making it slightly confusing at first until you realize Lauren is Scarlet.

Henry comes back in town and lives at home with his parents and borrows their car. He is at his old High School to connect with the current senior class so he can be the commencement speaker at graduation. During this time his whole teenage angst returns as he tries to connect with Scarlet. Scarlet is a pharmacist played by Winona Ryder, which is humorous on a different level. Her ex-bf Brad is the gym teacher. He and Henry get into it and are sent to the principle's office, who is played by Chevy Chase. In order to make things more difficult, bombshell student Hilary Duff throws herself at him. Toward the end of the film, some people from his high school finally read his book and realize they are in it. The book Henry wrote was about how Lionel (Ritchie) got him laid, although it was a Kenny Loggins song that inspires him at the end of the film.

Sean Astin was perhaps the bright spot, playing a gay. Except for him, much of the acting was flat. Mark Polish, who wrote the script was dull as the lead. The movie attempted to create those wonderful indie characters, but failed primarily due to the lack of good memorable lines and Polish's flat performance. I could picture Adam Sandler playing that part.

The movie is clever in that it is able to recreate the entire high school scene for Harry as an adult. This is a chick flick written by a guy. It might suffice as a date night rental. I perhaps overrated the film because I enjoy watching Sean Astin, Chevy Chase, Hilary Duff, and of course Winona Ryder can steal any scene.

No f-bombs, sex, or nudity.