Posted: 03/16/2001

Get Over It

(2001)

by Wayne Case

Kirsten Dunst shines in this sweet little film from the director of Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss.

This sweet little film opened nation wide on 3/9/2001 to fairly decent business. The distributor, Miramax, refused to allow advance screenings which confirms their lack of confidence and support regardless of what they may say. After struggling through the crude Saving Silverman and the lame Head Over Heels recently, another obnoxious teen comedy was not something I looked forward to. Thank goodness, this didn’t turn out to be another one of those.

As the film opens, we meet a high school boy, Berke (Ben Foster) just as he is being dumped by the love of his young life, Allison (Melissa Sagemiller). As he leaves her place, carrying a box of his belongings she has packed up for him, we hear The Captain and Tennille on the soundtrack singing their hit recording of “Love Will Keep Us Together.” As Berke walks down the street, a large group of the neighbors gradually gathers behind him marching along and lip-syncing to the song. From that point on, I was hooked!

While Allison moves on to a hunky Brit, Striker (Shane West), Ben can’t seem to get over her and decides to join his schools production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream as a distraction. At play practice he encounters his buddy Felix’ sister, Kelly. Felix is nicely played by Colin Hanks (son of Tom Hanks), and Kelly is top billed Kirsten Dunst. We realize they belong together long before they do but, watching their mutual attraction develop is a lot of fun.

The entire cast is excellent, even though a few seem a bit old to be high school students. This observation doesn’t apply to 21-year-old Ben Foster who is not leading man handsome, but does possess enough charm, likeability and talent to insure a nice long career. I thought he was wonderful in the woefully underrated Liberty Heights (1999) and look forward to his upcoming big budgeted military epic now being directed by Ridley Scott and called Black Hawk Down. At almost 19 years old, Kirsten Dunst is also quite believable as a high school student, and a beautiful one at that! I especially liked her in Interview With The Vampire (1994), The Virgin Suicides (2000), and in her recent hit, Bring It On. She is now filming the highly anticipated Spider-Man (2002) and will be seen later this year as actress Marion Davies in Peter Bogdanovich’s The Cat’s Meow. Shane West, a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is attractive and effective as the British Striker. To date, he is probably best known for his work in the current television success, Once And Again. This part should yield bigger and better others for him. As Dr. Forrest-Oaks, the head of the high school drama department that is producing their own musical version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Martin Short has some very funny moments. Pop music star Sisqo makes his film debut here; he is likeable and shows promise.

This is film number two from director Tommy O’Haver. His first was the under appreciated and under promoted Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss (1998). Mr. O’Haver learned his craft well at the University of Southern California School of Cinema and Television, but his sense of style has to be a talent that he was born possessing. I love the way his films look and the fact that he makes the most of a medium that he truly understands. If the fates are kind, he will soon get a breakout project and he has the talent to make it terrific! He could do a great job on the right musical. This is also film number two for writer, R. Lee Fleming, Jr. His first was the excellent and successful She’s All That (1999). I look forward to more and better from him, also.

The production notes were hazy about the music credits, but the ads indicate that songs are by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. While I couldn’t find any previous credits for Mr.Wittman, Mr. Shaiman has received five music branch Oscar nominations, including one for co-writing the song, “Blame Canada,” and one for scoring The American President (1995). There are two excellent songs here, “Allison” and “Dream Of Me.” I hope that the distributor gets them submitted to qualify for nomination consideration.

As the closing credits roll, Sisqo and another music hit maker, named Vitamin C front a nice little music video styled production number. Unfortunately, the camera never stays on anyone long enough to get a real good look, but Ben Foster does participate and is charming while doing so!

With a brisk running time of 85 minutes and a MPAA rating of PG-13, I found Get Over It to be a nice diversion. My rating is 7½ out of a possible 10.

Wayne Case works in the film industry in Hollywood.

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