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I'm not a prude. I know that humans are sexual beings, and I support any and all (mostly legal) activities to that end. However, I'm somewhat of a mind that teens need to practice with other teens and not actual adults. There are some things which seem ill acceptable. I have a son. He is still in preschool, but my friends had better never think it's O.K. to teach him anything requiring nudity before he can even drive. I just can't support that.

Oscar (Aaron Stanford) is no ordinary fifteen year old. He reads Voltaire. He speaks French. He has a taste for the finer things in life. He is precocious to the point of being a little irritating. And, he is in love with his stepmother, Eve (Sigourney Weaver).

One evening, while intoxicated, he is taken with her friend, Diane (Bebe Neuwirth). Diane happens to be wearing a scarf that belongs to Eve, and, in his altered state, Oscar is enchanted by the scent of it and makes his move. He and Diane sleep together, and it becomes perilously important to him that Eve never find out. He's not worried she'll be angry, mind you; he just thinks it may hurt his chances with her. This is teenage bizarro world, but the adults have decided to play along.

Diane explains to Eve that there is something missing in her life. She wanted to be with Oscar, because he has a passion and exuberance that she has not found in anyone else. To me, it seemed like she is a vampire sucking his very youth from him, but who am I to say. The character is understandable from her point of view, but it is slightly disturbing that her point of view wins the day. She is even trying to sign others up for the Mrs. Robinson jail-bait-date program.

The performances are good, but the actors are more charming than the characters. The story ended well but seemed to lack substance. Robert Iler stood out as Oscar's amusing friend, who had a much better head about him than seemingly anyone else.

Maybe I don't get this, because I have never been a fifteen year old boy. But, someday I hope to be a forty year old woman, and I feel I can absolutely guarantee that your preteen would be safe with me.

link directly to this review at https://www.efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=5743&reviewer=317
originally posted: 02/05/03 05:07:29
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