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March 26, 2001 -- "Get Over It" is a strange mixture of romantic comedy and musical. The first half is the usual brain-dead high school romantic comedy. It is pretty bad. The second half is a rousing musical based on Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." That part of the film is pretty good.
The film features imaginative dream and fantasy sequences to go with a well-staged musical production featuring music and songs by Marc Shaiman of "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut," Steve Bartek and Scott Wittman. The cinematography, by Maryse Alberti of "Happiness" and editing by Jeff Betancourt "Chuck and Buck" are good. The production design, by Robin Standefer of "The Caveman's Valentine" and art direction, by Andrew Hull, are good, especially in the fantasy sequences. Those fantasy sequences include a "magical forest" backdrop in some of the "Midsummer Night's Dream" sequences.
The story has high school kid Berke Landers (played by Ben Foster) being dumped by his girlfriend, Allison (Melissa Sagemiller). She starts going out with a new guy named Striker (Shane West of "Dracula 2000"), who is some sort of ex-rock star. Trying to get his old girlfriend back, Berke signs up for the high school play. His best friend's sister, Kelly (Kirsten Dunst of "Bring it On"), helps him with his lines and songs. Berke's best friend, Felix is played by Colin Hanks of "Whatever it Takes." The director of the school play, Dr. Desmond Forrest, is played by Martin Short of "Mars Attacks!" While Short is good at playing obnoxious, pathetic characters, such as the director of the school play, there's something about this guy's manner that creeps me out like the sound of fingernails on a blackboard. Parts of his performance were funny, other parts, very scratchy.
Dunst is fine in her very sympathetic role. Foster doesn't have the screen presence to stay with her. Even in a school populated with as many gorgeous women as this one, it is hard to believe that Dunst would not have her own boyfriend. Rceording artist Sisqo, who plays Berke's friend Dennis, does a good job in his role, especially in the song and dance numbers. Dunst also shows she has a nice singing voice. One of her songs, "Dream of Me" is featured on the movie soundtrack CD. In addition to the musical numbers during the play, there are some songs from the 1970's thrown in as well, including an opening fantasy song and dance number to the tune of Captain and Tennille's "Love Will Keep Us Together." Just when you think the film's over, there's a bonus song and dance number tacked onto the beginning of the credits. It is a sharp, entertaining routine featuring Sisqo. Now, if it wasn't for the dreadful barf, bathroom and urination humor and other narrative weaknesses in the first part of the movie, it would have been a good film, possibly a great one. As it is, the film rates a C.
Click here for links to places to buy this movie in video and/or DVD format, the soundtrack, books, even used videos, games and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.
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