Stay Cool

Sean Astin (Rudy, The Goonies, Lord of the Rings) plays a gay guy. Astin as far as I have read and seen, has always prided himself on his roles and his professionalism. I think that his role of Sam, Frodo's "super close friend" almost made him make the next step in his acting career. He threw his credibility out the window in this film, Stay Cool. He plays a stereotypical, flamboyant, boa-wearing gay guy working at a hair salon. And, this has NOTHING to do with the main story...I was just taken aback. Really the story is about a nerd-turned-successful author, Henry McCarthy (Mark Polish) and goes back to school to give the commencement speech in his hometown. His book, dealt with the "girl who got away" and after returning home he was confronted by his "dream girl" (Winona Ryder). All the while, a girl at the school (Hillary Duff) has the hots for him and asks him to Prom which he never had the chance to go to as a high-schooler. Old feelings and regrets haunt McCarthy as he battles with what he should do and what he wants to do. A cameo appearance by Chevy Chase as the school principal adds to the comedic aspect of the film.
A bit unrealistic and an over-dramatized story of circumstances that would never REALLY happen, fill this story. Any grown man would have the wits about him to turn back on some of the decisions he makes. An unrealistic lack of judgment infected the film and turned this story into an almost "fairy tale". There was an entertaining aspect of the film... the idea of going back to your hometown only to see everyone still moving through the town embarrassed to still be stuck there was a funny tweak to the storyline.

Elementary Grading Scale: Needs Improvement
1-10: 5