First off,I have to say that i enjoyed the book. This however, is trash. The acting was so bad it was painful to watch. Dominique Swain's performance was terrible. It was like watching a middle school play. The reaction when Darcy said she was raped and Matt commits suicide was just completely wrong. Not only that, but the soundtrack was awful. It sounded like really watered down grunge. The only good song was one that Cybil sings. Surprisingly, I thought that Tara Reid as Cybil was really interesting. However, because of the script, not even an Oscar worthy performance could save this movie. In conclusion, this movie is garbage, but it was a lot of fun for my sister and I to make fun of.

For those who live in a hole, or block out American pop culture, this movie is FAR too similar to "My So-Called Life" or maybe its just me. I mean, first off, the story is about a girl who is jaded by her boring, wholesome life and trades it in for something edgier. While the focus for "Girl" is Andrea's fascination with local rock star Tom Sparrow, MSCL's protagonist's object of obsession is a local stoner legend. After that, the similarities continue. First of all, the protagonist for Girl is a straight-A student named Andrea while the protagonist for MSCL is a popular, studious girl named Angela. They both have page-boy cuts with red hair. They both have middle America families. They both live in suburbia. They both have brunette, clean cut best friends who they trade in for their new edgier crowd. They both have cute, clean cut boys who adore them. They both have a new, totally f-ed up best friend who unintentionally try to bring their life down with them... and to be continued. Once you get passed the obvious similarities which makes this movie quite boring, you have to tackle the lack-luster performances from several of the main characters. For time's sake, I'll just focus on that of Dominique Swain who's performance confused me. I didn't understand her as a mature 18 year old entering a woman's world. I saw her as 14-15 year old child who knows nothing about life. Andrea didn't seem to have the basic knowledge of an 18 year old (which she was supposed to be). When I saw the end, I thought the movie took place over her entire high school career, and was utterly surprised that it was just one year. And at times, she seemed to be even younger... 5 perhaps. I know that that time of a girl's life is supposed to be about exploration and such, but to skip out on 3 to ten year's of one's life is quite unexplainable. This movie is boring, and done. If you want a better look at teenage angst and growth into maturity, may I suggest My So-Called Life.

Listen, I know this movie may be a "teen movie" or whatever people are calling it but this movie to me is great. I love the characters and what they have to say. To me, it all means something. How they act and the affect each has on each other. The loving karma between a young woman and an experienced man in the underground music business was so real to me. Knowing how I felt when I was a girl dreaming of a singer. Now, the ending, I didn't like. Andrea leaving Todd, I just can't see that happening in "Reality". And Sean P, he is such a beautiful man so I have to give the movie a nine for the great storyline and the good cast.

Do yourself a favor and read the book before you try to watch this movie. After watching it I felt like they tried to turn this incredible and moving work of fiction into an episode of My So-Called Life. The book this screenplay is loosely based on is so much more powerful than this bland film version. The main character was heinously miscast, she brings no depth to the role whatsoever. You end up being annoyed by her, instead of identifying with her in any meaningful way. And you never find out enough about the supporting cast to understand what's going on with them. In my opinion the entire point of the novel was completely missed. I was terribly disappointed.