Elijah Wood, Franka Potente, Mandy Moore, Deborah Harry, Elizabeth Perkins

Elijah Wood has one of his first post-Frodo leading roles in this mild-mannered comedy (the title of which was Try Seventeen in its film festival showings). He's a 17-year-old college dropout who moves into a funky old apartment building and becomes intrigued by his wacky neighbors. Mandy Moore play... (read more) Elijah Wood has one of his first post-Frodo leading roles in this mild-mannered comedy (the title of which was Try Seventeen in its film festival showings). He's a 17-year-old college dropout who moves into a funky old apartment building and becomes intrigued by his wacky neighbors. Mandy Moore plays the self-absorbed actress across the hall, and Run Lola Run goddess Franka Potente is a cranky photographer. The movie has a few surprises (the casting seems to suggest a teenybopper romance for Wood and Moore, but not so fast), although the energy level rarely perks up and it's pretty thin on actual narrative happenings. Wood's tendency toward fantasy is an especially tired device. A furtive sense of humor, plus the big adoring closeups of the highly photogenic leading ladies, provides the low-key interest. Trivia: Elizabeth Perkins plays the hero's irresponsible mom; she was also Elijah Wood's mother in Avalon. --Robert Horton

R, 93 min.
Directed by: Jeffrey Porter
Release Date: Sep 01, 2003
DVD Release Date: Sep 16, 2003