Mutant Reviewers from Hell do
"Can you imagine an entire life wrapped up in a shoe?"

2005 PG-13 / Drama Romance Directed by: Cameron Crowe Starring: Orlando Bloom, Kirsten Dunst, Alec Baldwin

Tagline

It's a heck of a place to find yourself

Summary Capsule

A young man has to go to his father's hometown to collect his father's body and experience the (awful) small-town charm of said small town

Mutant Meter

Movie Store [proceeds go toward monthly MRFH upkeep]

Amazon.com: DVD | Amazon.com: Soundtrack

Kyle's Rating: all reviewing occurs in real time
Kyle's Review: I'll never truly . . .

Okay, this is picking up five minutes after typing the start of that first sentence. Sitting in my chair, watching the beginning of Elizabethtown, I realized something after the first few minutes: this film would be best enjoyed with any kind of distraction(s).

"OH EM GEE Kirsten Dunst just ran the '60B' thing so into the ground that I would seriously have shot her if I were Orlando Bloom."

Absolutely everything about Elizabethtown (thus far; Bloom is being talked at by Dunst on the airplane right now) is recycled from prior Crowe films. And everything that worked in those previous films either doesn't work at all or is so clearly recycled that any charm it once possessed is completely negated. It's very weird and sort of disconcerting: all the musical montages (now taken over and done much better on television shows like House) are lame, and OH EM GEE Kirsten Dunst just ran the "60B" thing so into the ground that I would seriously have shot her if I were Orlando Bloom. Yikes, ick, gag me with a spoon.

If I remember correctly (and some quick research confirms my memory) Ashton Kutcher was originally meant for the role. I guess it was written for Bloom but then he couldn't do it so it was going to be Kutcher but then that didn't work out (it was either lack of charm with Dunst or lack of actual talent on Kutcher's part: you'll have to decide). I had been thinking that Kutcher would have been the worst thing ever. Now I'm not so sure. I mean, this cousin guy (Loudon Wainwright) is pretty much just a mini-Ashton with super-sideburns, so whatever. But maybe the general insanity of this odd cinematic universe would make some semblance of sense if Kutcher was our narrator/wanderer. You know, in like a "two wrongs make a right" kind of situation.

Dude, the little kid just vomited on some old guy. What is going on? So maybe nothing could have saved this? Vanilla Sky was supposed to be awful but it wasn't, really. But this is awful.

Oh, no. As soon as the entire populace of Elizabethtown greets a driving Bloom and even points his proper way to the funeral home, I finally knew for sure that this was horrible. Horrible. Horrible! What is going on? Why is this so absolutely wretched, lame, unfunny, disconnected, painful, and interminably endless? I don't quite understand. I'm curious if perhaps all the films of this type and riffs on this plot and personal experiences I've accumulated until now have caused anything dependent on the vagaries of small-town charm to be completely played out. The kid tossing the big roast thing to the dogs? Awful.

"The word is 'whimsical.'" Final nail in the coffin. I had been lamenting the casting of Daniel Craig as James Bond, and often claimed that I would have preferred Orlando Bloom as a young Bond. Now I'm not sure. I mean, he would have just had to move around and be good-looking and let the bullets and explosions and the Bond girls do most of the work, but I don't know.

Please never see Elizabethtown. Oh, no, I wish I wasn't sitting here watching it. I'm going to finish writing this review and send it in before I even finish watching the movie, but believe me: every word I'm writing is valid. It's just awful. Kirsten Dunst with an accent, Orlando Bloom attempting to be charming and lost, and all of Crowe's tricks just seem to have accumulated dust. All of which could be easily forgiven if the dialogue wasn't as totally lame as it is.

I honestly wonder what happened here. As someone vested in creativity, I feel like I need to learn something valuable from this train wreck. I'm not sure if I can right now, but for sure over the next week or so I'm going to be thinking about this. And especially how I can con someone or something out of the $3 it cost me to rent this.

Don't ever watch this ever. Please.

Which one does not fit in with this picture? (Hint: it's an accessory!) Orlando, you're sure not going out of your way to appear in masculine settings in your recent films. Just sayin'. "ARGHHH! Why, oh why did you put bleach on your hands before doing this?!"

Didja Notice? [some sources: IMDb]

• On the plane, Claire corrects Drew Baylor about the pronunciation of the city of Louisville. Her pronunciation is correct, though it doesn't sound it.
• A scene was shot in the John Wayne Airport in Orange County. It was the first time since the terrorist attacks on the USA of 11 September 2001 that a film has shot there. The crew was given only one night to shoot.

Is It Worth Staying Through End Credits?

No. Don't ever see this movie, please. I'm sorry, Cameron Crowe, but it's just how it is. I still love and respect you, though. Sinerely, Kyle.

Intermission! [some sources: IMDb]

Judy Greer plays Orlando Bloom's younger sister. In reality, Greer is two years older than Bloom.

Jesse's band comprises members of Kentucky's native band My Morning Jacket who are also featured on the soundtrack.

While shooting a scene in a cemetery with actors Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst, filming was interrupted due to an unexpected rain storm. Cameron Crowe suggested they shoot the scene anyway because it looked more beautiful and natural.

Groovy Quotes

Hollie Baylor: Don't expect to be making any friends.
Heather Baylor: Drew doesn't have friends, Mom.
Drew Baylor: I have friends!

Drew Baylor: I'm gonna have to call you back...
Heather Baylor: Okay, just dial HELL and I'll answer.

Claire Colburn: Trust me. Everyone is less mysterious than they think they are

Claire Colburn: We peaked on the phone.

Claire Colburn: I'm hard to remember, but I'm impossible to forget.

Claire Colburn: To have never taken a solitary road trip across country? I mean everybody's got to take a road trip, at least once in their lives. Just you and some music.

Drew Baylor: You know the way people look at you as if it's the last time? I've started collecting these looks.

Jessie Baylor: I teach my kids about the things that really matter. I will teach them about Abraham Lincoln and Ronnie Van Sandt, because they are equally important in my house.

If you liked this movie, try these:

• The Doom Generation
• Vanilla Sky
• Big Fish