Lynn b. of our Hollywood Preview crew, went to a screening of a new romantc film for teens. Here are her feelings about:

crazy/beautiful

(TOUCHSTONE PICTURES)

One of Crazy/Beautiful's producers calls Kirsten Dunst "honest and open and brave". She went the distance to become scruffy character Nicole and off came her long straight hair and make-up. The star's wardrobe was "ripped, shredded, dyed and distressed. This has gotta be brutal for an actress who was one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People!

In L.A., 17-year-old, grungy, rebellious Congressman's daughter Nicole Oakley (Kirsten Dunst) meets Latino "A" student Carlos Nunez (Jay Hernandez) while she's on a detention detail picking up trash on the beach. While he gets up at 5:00 a.m. in East L.A. to catch a bus to her posh Pacific Palisades high school, Nicole rolls out of bed in her ritzy home and cuts classes to hang with her druggie pals. The sparks are there between the two, however and a romance develops. At first, she's using him to tick off her dad (Bruce Davison) and cold yuppie step-mom (Lucinda Jenney) but she soon realizes that she's really falling for him.

Carlos's family objects, not because Nicole is of a different race and culture but because they see she's leading him away from his studies and goal to attend the Naval Academy and become a pilot. Nicole's dad tells Carlos to stay away from his daughter because she'll ruin his life. Needing to "focus" on his work or lose his goal, Carlos cools it with Nicole and she's shattered. She rebels by going back to her wasted pals. Carlos rescues her only to learn that her dad has had enough and is sending her off to a teen boot camp for a serious attitude adjustment.The two run away and when Nicole pours out her heart and past to Carlos, he finally understands her rebellion and helps her return home for a long-overdue reconciliation with her dad.

This Romeo-Juliet romance has been compared to Save the Last Dance (without the dancing). There are similarities but the emotions run a lot deeper here. Dunst and Hernandez are very "real" in their characters. We've all met people like Carlos and Nicole and we can relate when these opposites attract. Carlos is admirable because no matter how hard Nicole makes it for him, in the long run, he hangs in and won't give up on her. Her dad gave up a long time ago and it takes Carlos to teach him that she's worth fighting for no matter what the personal cost. There is something heroic in this that outshines the cardboard heroism of larger-than-life characters like Ben and Josh in Pearl Harbor for instance. Actor-turned-director John Stockwell (Christine, Top Gun, Billionaire Boys Club) has made his mark in the last few years directing gritty, character-centered films and continues the tradition with "crazy".

Although Nicole's life turns around and cleans up a little too neatly and easily, it's so gratifying to see dad finally stand up for his daughter that we don't care. It's nice to see that one teen's shattered life can be totally turned around just because someone else, in this case Carlos, truly cared. It's a great lesson for teens and parents alike. In a summer filled with noise and effects, a character-driven film like this is a welcome departure. No matter how grungy, Kirsten is easy on the eyes and Jay is pretty hot as well. This is a great date film. Take your sweetie, cuddle up and watch true love save the day.

Directed by	John Stockwell
Screenplay by	Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi
Starring:	Kirsten Dunst as Nicole Oakley
	Jay Hernandez as Carlos Nunez
	Taryn Manning as Maddy
	Bruce Davison as Congressman Oakley
	Lucinda Jenney as Courtney Oakley