Stay Cool (2009)

An author who returns to his hometown to deliver a commencement address to a class of graduating high school students has to deal with his feelings for an old flame as well as the advances of a student who has the hots for him.

Director:

Michael Polish

Writer:

Mark Polish

Stars:

Winona Ryder, Mark Polish, Sean Astin

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Winona Ryder	...	Scarlet Smith
Mark Polish	...	Henry McCarthy
Sean Astin	...	Big Girl
Hilary Duff	...	Shasta O'Neil
Josh Holloway	...	Wino
Jon Cryer	...	Javier
Chevy Chase	...	Principal Marshall
Jessica St. Clair	...	Darcy Portola
Frances Conroy	...	Mrs. Leuchtenberger
Marc Blucas	...	Brad Nelson
Joanna Cassidy	...	Mrs. Smith
Dee Wallace	...	Mrs. McCarthy
Michael Gross	...	Mr. McCarthy
Ken Johnson	...	Mr. O'Neil
Jessica Schatz	...	Mrs. O'Neil

Storyline

The film centers on a successful author who is forced to confront an unrequited high school crush when he returns home to deliver a commencement address to graduating seniors. Shasta O'Neil, a sexy high school senior flirts with the visiting author and invites him to the prom. The film is described as a "knowing-your-age comedy".

---

Taglines:

Shoulda. Coulda. Woulda.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, language including some drug references, and for some underage drinking

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 September 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

E Se o Amor Acontece...

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Initiate Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the opening narration, the writer refers to past acquaintances by category. He refers to "...soon to be out of the closet gay guys" as the picture focuses on a high school photo of a "Phil Morris". Phil Morris is the name of Steven Russell's (Jim Carrey) male love interest & titular character in "I Love You Philip Morris".

---

Quotes

Scarlet Smith: I think I've made just as bad every bad decision if there is to make, every.
Henry McCarthy: We don't stop making them. You're gonna making one a minute from now that's gonna affect you life. The minute you start realizing that every decision, as amount to something, then we'll have to start making them to count.

---

Connections

References Say Anything... (1989)

---

Soundtracks

"Studd Muffin"
Written by Spencer Stander
Performed by Spencer Stander

User Reviews

Flawed but cool?

Which could be a description of the main character ... not. There is quite a bit of suspend of disbelieve here, but there is also quite a bit of realness in it too. The mix is done pretty good and the actors are amazing too. It's nice to see Wynona in a decent role again (if you don't count the short Star Trek thing).

Then again, after watching the TV show Lost, I can't help but seeing those guys everywhere. And there is actually one of them here. I guess he did the movie in-between, as a relaxing exercise. Next for this Dude? Mission Impossible (4), if IMDb has it right on his site. The main actor is not really that engaging, but he does a good job portraying the man he is supposed to be. A decent effort and a movie that will "click" with a few people more than it does with others (no that's not a Lost reference!)