casting disaster?

Another one of those made-in Canada movies where they seemingly ask an amateurish, unphotogenic cousin or uncle or next-door neighbor to play an important role and provide his/her own costumes--for instance, the dentally-challenged woman who takes the girl into her home, the weirdly-dressed daughter (what's with the gypsy fortuneteller head-dress?), the policeman/detective who appears to be reading his lines off a prompter, and the school Mr.Heartthrob, who can't act and has an profile more suited for comedy.

"Jo" had an obnoxious expression on her face most of the time, which made her an unsympathetic protagonist. I did think the Head Mean Girl's looks and acting successfully fit that part, however.