Drive Me Crazy

”The last guy she wants is the only one she needs."

Nicole Maris (Melissa Joan Hart) is little Ms. Popularity at Timothy Zonin High School. Her clothes, her friends, her extracurricular activities, are all specifically chosen for maximum “in crowd” effect. Her current project is heading the committee for the school’s Centennial Celebration. Typically, Nicole always gets what she wants, but when jug head, jock Brad falls in love with another girl and decides NOT to take Nicole to the dance, her carefully sculpted plan is yanked to a jarring halt.

Next-door neighbor and once childhood friend, Chase Hammond (Adrian Grenier) refers to himself as a disaffected youth. He smirks in the face of popularity, referring to the insiders as sheep. He’s content to rebel against the herd until his political-minded, aggressively amorous girlfriend, Dulcie (Ali Larter), breaks up with him. In an attempt to rouse their desired mates jealousy, Nicole suggests she and Chase pretend to be together. The scam involves making over Chase and submerging him into Nicole’s elite, but sometimes cruel crowd. Not surprisingly, Nicole and Chase begin to develop a real attraction for each other and find things to both like and dislike about each other’s worlds. In the end, it’s about realizing what and who is most important to them.

DRIVE ME CRAZY did just that…it drove me crazy. The movie had great potential, but was spoiled by a slow pace, weak writing and a bad, make that slightly distasteful, ending. You won’t find the sharp, intelligent wit of 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU here. Neither will you find the softhearted, romantic charm of SHE’S ALL THAT. What you will find is a truthful, shallow and rather depressing representation of high school and the defining cliques kids fall into. Lest you think it’s all bad, it’s not. There are few saving graces in this film, the first and largest being Adrian Grenier. His soulful eyes, wayward hair and expressive smile capture the screen and make you almost forgive having to watch the self-possessed, overly bitchy Melissa in all her many close-ups. Several supporting cast members also strengthen the movie. Ali Larter shines as the no-nonsense, dark Dulcie. Mark Webber is endearing as Designated Dave. Keri Lynn Pratt is sweet and convincing as the once outsider unsure of her new, popular positioning and Susan May Pratt is absolutely delicious as the scheming, acidic Alicia. Unfortunately, the talented young cast isn’t enough to save this flimsy film. Short on laughs and love, I give it two and a half hearts.

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