Can't Hardly Wait

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Can't Hardly Wait ★★ The Party 1998 (PG-13)

Writer-directors Kaplan and Elfont attempt to reheat the John Hughes 80s teen-party-and-angst casserole for Kimthe kids of the 90s. Unfortunately, it's lost its flavor. All of your favorite high school cardboard cut-ups are here. Jock-jerk Mike (Facinelli) dumps teen queen Amanda (Hewitt) on the eve of a graduation blowout. Shy, sensitive Preston (Embry), who believes himself linked to Amanda by fate and their mutual love of toaster pastry, decides this is his opportunity to finally tell her how he feels. Frolicking in the background are your stereotypical foreign exchange students, stoners, geeks, metal heads, jocks and bimbos herded around by the ever-present Girl Whose Party It Is. Wavers between (unsuccessfully) trying to be thoughtful like “American Graffiti” and thoughtless like “Animal House.” 101m/C VHS, DVD . Ethan (Randall) Embry, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Peter Facinelli, Charlie Korsmo, Seth Green, Jerry O'Connell, Lauren Ambrose, Jenna Elfman, Michelle Brookhurst, Erik Palladino, Steve Monroe; D: Harry Elfont, Deborah Kaplan; W: Harry Elfont, Deborah Kaplan; C: Lloyd Ahern II; M: David Kitay, Matthew Sweet.