Palo Alto, CA (aka Palo Alto/2008/Image DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Film: C

 

 

Originally entitled Palo Alto, Brad Leong and company decided to add California’s initials in case too many of us were atlas-illiterate, as if we do not know how to use MapQuest or a like service to figure out where this tale of teens takes place.  That is also as if we have never seen stories about middle class teens growing up anywhere in that state.  It is that mentality that sabotages potentially good storytelling.

 

It is supposed to be yet another “night that changes their lives forever” story, but those are tired to begin with and even after 95 minutes, not enough really happens to justify that claim, though I thought the cast (including Aaron Ashmore and Ben Savage, the best know actors here) was believable and convincing.  But it is the same old story we have seen before minus any real humor or other funny moments, though they try at humor a few times to no avail.

 

The language in Tony Vallone’s script is on the explicit side (this got an R rating) and you can tell a guy wrote it from the excess of negative words for women some of the male characters flout.  The overall result is a set of missed opportunities in a very, very uneven final product.  Only worth a look for the most interested.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image looks a little weaker than expected with a softness throughout that gets in the way of some good shots.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo mixes both show the budget limits of this dialogue-driven recording.  Extras include deleted & alternate scenes, director/writer audio commentary and cast interviews.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo