Dishonest ending to good movie (SPOILERS!)

I thought the film was good, rather like an After-School special, but with more imagination and charm. However, I think it outstays its welcome and the proper length for the story would have been an hour, just like an After-School special.

However, my beef is with the resolution of the "romance" plot. On the commentary track, director Blair Treu says that Emily ends up with David because he believes that's what would happen in real life. I have numerous problems with this statement and the way it plays out in the movie. First of all, there is something offensive about the way Philip hands off Emily to David as if she were his to give. Also, seeing Emily form such a strong bond with Philip and then wanting to date his older brother makes her seem much more shallow than she ought to be at the end of the movie, after the action of the film has supposedly matured her. After all, David's barely been around through most of the movie, and he was involved in something she finds heinous and nearly unforgivable (the drunk driving incident).

I don't see why the film had to end with a conventional romantic resolution at all. What would most likely happen in real life is that the three would become very close friends and neighbors and not have any romantic involvements with each other at all. If they do, then save it for a sequel, Mr. Treu, where you might have more time to explore the repercussions of two brothers wanting to date the same girl, and the issue of the age difference between Emily and Philip, who are clearly the romantic couple here, despite Philip's age.

Just my two cents.



"You stink of horse."