Noni -> Movies -> Stay Cool

Stay Cool (2009)

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„Ryder seems to get lovelier with time“
Variety

Mark Polish	Henry McCarthy
Winona Ryder	Scarlet Smith
Hillary Duff	Shasta O'Neill
Sean Astin	Big Girl
Josh Holloway
Chevy Chase	Principal Marshall

Story

After 18 years Henry McCarthy returns to his hometown – a small suburb of Sacramento – when he graduated one of the high school nerds, today a bestselling author. Invited by Principal Marshall to give the commencement speach at his high-school he revists the town of his youth. And sees that all weirdos, thugs and old loves are still there.

While young groupie Shasta O'Neill wants to get close to him he really reconnects with his high-school crush Scarlet Smith. Back in school Scarlet was the beauty of the town and had no eyes for nerdy Henry. Today she's finally split up with the past high-school football champion who only treated her bad.

My Opinion

The movie reminds me in some ways of Welcome Home Roxy. The only real characters in Stay Cool are Scarlet (Winona) and Henry (Mark Polish) - all other characters are mostly there for fun and quite two-dimensional. Chevy Chase has some seldom but nice pop-in scenes in a Caddyshack kind of way as a little wacky headmaster. Jon Cryer is quite wasted and he isn't really needed for the story. All actors show fun playing their roles but the movie fails to bring the singular great performances together. Winona's character somehow reminds me of her portrayel of Charlotte Fielding in Autumn In New York - of course minus the disease.

If you went to your last school reunion and really thought it was a very bad idea you will like this movie. Also if you were the nerd back then and like to see how the most popular at high school failed.

Winona plays okay but the role doesn't hold many challenges. She's the female lead and in about 30-35 minutes. And even if you have no acting challenges for Winona here at last there are many scenes with Winona in a thight t-shirt sitting on her bed - well something at last for the men.

Not the best movie – about en-par with Mr. Deeds.