The film that probably got Alicia Silverstone noticed by Hollywood The Crush is a new take on the young teenage being obsessed with an older man. Cary Elwes is alright though he doesn't have much to do but Silverstone is pretty good- It is strange to see her absent lately as she clearly has that star factor going for her. Go see it for her.

Like most teenagers in the early/mid 90's it was pretty hard to dislike (or at least ignore) Alicia Silverstone. This movie in particular was advertised on TV for weeks on end in the summer of 93, often enough to remember it nearly 25 years after. I never watched 'The Crush' as a teenager though, which might have been a good thing. When I finally did last week, I couldn't quite understand the fuss it generated upon its release (other than being Alicia's first major role), nor can I explain the amount of criticism it has gathered since. For the most part the main characters (especially the journalist) are somewhat implausible, and the story focuses on depicting her increasingly violent outbursts rather than motivation or inner conflicts. But make no mistake, Alicia is more than convincing as a 14 years old Lolita from hell, being at various times sweet, fragile, manipulative, precocious, overtly sexual, and creepy. The story might not be the most unpredictable you've come across, but it's engaging enough to keep you interested. A significant number of reviews seem to focus on the difference between certain attitudes and production values between early 90's and now rather than the movie itself. Some even go as far as accusing Alan Shapiro of featuring soft core child pornography. I'm curious if the same criticism is leveled against Zeffirelli's 'Romeo and Juliet', for depicting a 14-year old Olivia Hussey (not an older body double) in an even more revealing scene. I guess the weakest point of the movie is the implausibility of the story and of the male character. We know how Adrian and Nick end up being neighbors, but no explanation is given for Adrian being left alone with an adult so frequently. The early 90's might have been more innocent and relaxed times, but not that innocent! As for Nick, he crosses the line so many times we can't decently view him as a victim in the end. It's unclear if he refuses Adrian's advances because he's intimidated/overwhelmed or because they are inappropriate. Indeed, if it wasn't for Amy raising the alarm early on, one wonders how far would Nick have pursued the 'frienship' with Adrian (some scenes which didn't make the DVD cut show Adrian & Nick enjoying a night swim, going for a ride in Nick's car, etc). Take this movie for what it is: not the best erotic thriller of the 90's, perhaps not even Oscar material, but definitely not a trashy, laughable, and exploitative flick either.

This wacky movie is so bad, it is actually somewhat entertaining. It is apparent from the very start that this is going to be an extremely stupid, lame chick-flick, but you're kind of obligated to watch to see just HOW dumb it's going to get. And it doesn't disappoint.Obviously, someone just pulled the script right out of their backside as it is hard to imagine a more unrealistic and unlikely sequence of events.Alicia Silverstone, however, is very good. She shines in her debut performance, despite the fact that she is playing a terribly-written character.The male lead was far less impressive. In fact, one of the worst performances I've seen lately. It really doesn't help matters that he's playing an annoyingly dumb 28-year old, who, in fact, doesn't look or act any older than Adrian. I did not feel any sympathy for Nick to be honest. He was neither charismatic, nor in any other way likable. A protagonist that leaves you indifferent (I'd say annoyed, actually)... not a good sign.As for the movie itself. Well, it was a trainwreck. An amateurish one at that. The recipe used for this movie was: "Lolita" plus "Fatal Attraction" minus all the thrills and suspense plus a healthy dose of "lame" multiplied my 10 equals "The Crush".Watch it as a comedy, not as a thriller. Then you'll probably enjoy it. Trust me, there are laughs to be had at the expense of the screenplay writer(s). Just when you think that it simply cannot get any dumber... it will surprise you!

I didn't understand all the negative reviews of the Crush. People want to look at this like it should be realistic, yet it isn't intended to be. It is just your average teen horror fare. The film is about a girl named Darian (or Adrian, whichever you prefer) who meets a handsome older 30 year old Nick Elliot (Cary Elwes) and gets an unhealthy, creepy obsession with him. Darian (played by Alicia Silverstone) is a talented and attractive 14 year old girl who is vulnerable and awkward in her struggles to make friends. Eventually Darian becomes a huge burden and does major damage to Nick's livelihood, causing him to get arrested on suspicion of statutory rape and losing his job. Things work out in the end though serendipitously by some luck by chance.In my opinion, Alicia Silverstone did an excellent job in this movie. For only 16, she played the part well of an insecure teenager, balanced with the role of a young seductive siren trying to make Nick Elliot break the law. You could really see her talent as a young actress which rightfully sprung her into other roles like Clueless(1995), True Crime(1996) and Blast from the Past(1999). Cary Elwes was a lot less impressive with his role and his acting, but he did make a funny pairing with Alicia Silverstone. The movie has many comical and endearing parts to it. Some of it seems exaggerated and unbelievable, like the way he was arrested without proper evidence, the homeowners believing him to be a drug dealer, and him not bothering to call before showing up to their house! You will laugh at the absurdity of these situations most definitely. Overall, it's entertaining, not bad to check out, especially if you are a major Alicia Silverstone fan. It's not bad watching less serious stuff once in a while.