Get Over it

Get Over it
by Tommy O'Haver

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DVD Reviews of Get Over it

DVD Review: Unfinished, prematurely released disco-remake of Shakespeare
Summary: 4 Stars

GOI is the fifth classic/Shakespeare-adaptation teen movie in recent memory (Clueless(1992) =Jane Austens Emma, Romeo & Juliet(1996) =Baz Luhrmans gun-infested Shakespeare, 10 Things I Hate About You(1999) =Taming of the Shrew, Get Over It(2001) =A.M.N.D., and O(2002) =Othello).

GOI even gives 10 Things a run for its impish money, thanks largely to its disco-cover soundtrack, plus the nostalgia of generations of students who survived their own high school theatre productions (previously on IMDb that similarity caused me to liken GOI to Fame(1980)).

Marc Shaiman has become the Mr Fixit of greenlighted disasters needing musical rescue. Hes responsible for the opening- and closing numbers (2 very well-integrated video-clips) here: Love Will Keep Us Together (Vitamin-Cs cover of the Captain&Tenille No.1 hit); and September (Vitamin-C&Sisqos cover of the classic Earth Wind&Fire disco anthem).

These clips come very close to stealing the showalthough there are problems with that as well. Vitamin-Cs procession out of Allison MacAllisters garage is probably Shaimans left-field inspiration, but shes never given any acting to do in the movie, so the inspiration is scuppered. As for Sisqos acting debut, his character, Dennis, plays like a mere token friend, whose lines are irritatingly lightweight (even though Sisqos performance hints at more).

The terrific-but-sudden closing disco number, September, unfortunately wrenches us from the story. Kirsten Dunst looks tres grown up in it; but the clips spontaneous, Fame-like charm is undermined by an apparently unfelt hug between Vitamin-C & Sisqo at the end.

At a length of 1:16mins without the end-clip, Get Over It is....too short. The third act, during which were supposed to see the actual stage play, is thin on Shakespeare! Only the barest skeleton of Shakespeares plot is revealed: a betrothed Athenian maiden, Hermia, has two lovers who become enchanted by fairies to act unpredictably. Of course, this mirrors the young stage thespians high-school lives to an almost uncomfortable degree.

Hermia/Allisons (Melissa Sagemiller) rivals are Demetrius/Bentley Scrumfeld (Shane West) and Lysander/Berke Landers (Ben Foster).

Bentley Scrumfeld aka Striker (groan) had been superbly castbut Shane West now appears stuck as a sneering Bentley Scrumfeld even in serious roles such as A Walk to Remember(2002).

On the other hand, Ben Fosters Berke seems an overly-studied sad sack (with strange, closed-mouthed speech mannerisms) who turns into a suprisingly off-putting, competitive dude.

The rivals notwithstanding, we really needed another 15-20mins of theatrics, Shakespearian or otherwise, with better-developed reasoning for the improv ending.

The deep structural problems implied by no less than 8 producers(!!!) on this teen flick couldnt be just fixed in post. THIS IS AN UNFINISHED FILM, PREMATURELY RELEASED. The 20-second haste of the intro montage with our high school lovers wouldve better suited a differently comprised movie (one that showed a lot more Shakespeare). Instead, the pace is haphazard; the ending rushed; and GOIs missing a lot of its mid-sectionaccounting for the split reviews its received.

There is much to like about it, however, such as Berke (Ben Foster)s relaxed, effortless kiss of Kelly (Kirsten Dunst), his best friends younger sister. Unselfconscious warmth like that is rare in teen films. This one is clearly trying to repeat the innocent-yet-knowing feel of the Brady Bunch Movie (note the Sherwood Schwartz-like family home of the McAllisters, whose garage spews forth Vitamin-C with her band).

Another great touch was the CGI-transformation of 3 live actors into fairies with fairydust coming out of their a**es. Their helium-induced imp voices are cute, and Little Steve (Dov Tiefenbach) is a perfect hootso much so, that we really shouldve gotten his backstory to explain why he was nicknamed Little Steve!

Most of the Fine Arts Dept, including the Chair, Desmond Forrest-Oats (Martin Short), plus the Production Assistant, Jessica (Jeanie Calleja), and the two stage crew/stoner guys, Chook (Park Bench) and Grendan (Daniel Enright), are all hammy, funny spoofs.

Martin Short is, of course, the master hamhis fantasy bubbles are hilarious, as are most of his deprecating lines spat out through his (fake) gums. His only really bad misfire is his BIZARRE hand gesture across his face in lieu of resting chin-on-palm. Its so awkward that it just doesnt look human.

Young Mila Kunis, as Basin (is that a name?), plays like a chirpy young Laura San Giacomo to Kelly (Kirsten Dunst)s proverbial Pretty teen-Woman. Kunis is a giggling delight. Its a shame she cant kick-start any chemistry with Dennis (Sisqo), her supposed admirer, eitherin my opinion because Dennis is tarred as gay: hes way overenthusiastic about Madonna!

The films true standout scene finally occurs as the two rivals for Allison/Hermias affection continue their altercation ... in some unexpected jocularity.

Berkes mother (the always reliable Swoozie Kurtz) even whispers in the audience to her husband (Ed Begley Jr, an old comic hand since his Spinal Tap(1984) days) that ...Its so real, you can almost feel the tension! This is, of course, the hoary old chestnut about EVERYTHING onstage being interpreted by audiences as part of the show.

For me, though, the movie registered a minus with Berkes parents being kept around BASICALLY to deliver the so real line, plus maybe to give director Tommy OHaver a cameo (as their Relationship Matters TV show director). In contrast, Kelly&Felixs parents are conspicuous by their absence.

In the end, its Colin Hanks who walks away with the picture. He owns and embodies Felix, Berkes best friend and Leisure-suit Larry teen. Felix is so peer-cool that his manly encouragement reaction shot to Dennis awkward thesping is both perfect and lingering. This, then, became my secret fav. scene.

GOIs promising Shakespeare spoof remains uncooked. The filmmakers (incl the 6 Producers+2 Exec Producers!!) should be given the opportunity to re-release GOI again. Id definitely pay to see that, based on this, their first attempt.(7/10)

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