IMDb

Ben
I watched Get Over It on a plane once and was sufficiently entertained that I decided to purchase the film so I could own it forevermore. This was back when airlines had to edit their films to be PG so I was curious what the M rated version of this movie would look like. Short answer is, I have learnt an important lesson about what to watch on planes and to never trust my feelings on a film after watching it. That goes for good or bad films, I watched Clueless for the first time on a plane and hated it, but now think it is a classic teen comedy. Get Over It however, is a different story.

Ben Foster stars as Berke, a high school senior who was recently dumped by his long time squeeze, Allison (Melissa Sagemiller). Determined to win her back, Berke joins the school play that she is also performing in as an excuse to spend time with her again. Complicating things is Allison’s new flame, British boy band member, and recent immigrant to the USA, Striker (Shane West, doing what can only be described as one of the best WORST English accents I’ve ever heard). Striker is cooler, better looking and way more charming that Berke could ever be, how is he meant to compete? Berke also strikes up a friendship with fellow actor, and his best friend’s (Colin Hanks) little sister, Kelly (Kirsten Dunst). She has developed a crush on Berke and is sad to see him yearning for a girl who clearly doesn’t want him anymore. If you can’t guess what happens in this movie, I’m not going to spoil it for you. Suffice to say that this teen film is as generic as they come. The douches get their comeuppance, and the good guy gets the girl, ahh but which one. There’s the million dollar question.

The best part about this film was Martin Short as an eccentric musical director. He is the only thing that saves this movie from getting a big fat F. Part of the fun of films like these are playing spot the celebrity, and there are plenty here. Mila Kunis is Kelly’s best friend in what must be one of her earliest film roles. Sisqo was currently into his 14th minute of fame and plays one of Berke’s basketball buddies. Vitamin C also appears in what are some of the strangest opening credits I’ve seen in recent times. Also, keep an eye for Zoe Saldana and Carmen Electra in smaller roles.

Rating: D

Sally
This is a strange movie. I struggle to like it, but at the same time I also struggle to hate it. It is in many ways a typically terrible teen movie. In other ways it’s more clever and carefully written than other films of the genre. Like I said, this is a strange movie.

Get Over It is a (very) loose adaptation of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This movie is obviously trying to capture some of the same audience as 10 Things I Hate About You, which successfully brought the Bard’s The Taming of the Shrew to a new generation (0r so I’ve been told. I’ve never seen this movie, but hear nothing but good things about it). Without ever having seen the latter film, I get the sense that Get Over It is a B-grade version green-lit to make money. The cast is filled with late 90s/early 2000s performers that give the movie a cash grabby feel. I mean, Sisqó co-stars. Vitamin C does two musical numbers. Carmen Electra has a fairly unnecessary cameo. Throw in a handful of other actors of the era– Kirsten Dunst, Shane West, Mila Kunis– and you get a real desperate feel.

On the other hand, there are some genuinely great actors in this movie. Like so good, I’m not sure why they decided this would be a good career move for them. Swoozie Kurtz and Ed Begley Jr. appear as two ultra hip parents who are just too hip to be cool. However, Martin Short absolutely nails it as a micromanaging drama teacher. He’s the best part of the movie, really.

Other than Short’s hilarious performance this is an entirely predictable movie. And yet, the script has its moments. The terrible musical production of Midsummer’s Night that the students are putting on is reminiscent of the terrible high school/college productions I’ve sat through, which are always funny in their own way. The script adheres to most cliches of the teen comedy genre, but it doesn’t fall back on excessive nudity or gross out humor like most. Still, this isn’t Clueless or even American Pie. In the wake of much better teen flicks, I can’t really give this one a great grade.

Rating: D