Crazy / Beautiful MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +1 1/2 Content: -3

Carlos (Jay Hernandez) is a model student, athlete and son who dreams of one day attending the U.S. Naval Academy. Each morning he takes the long bus ride from his Hispanic inner-city neighborhood to high school in an affluent suburb. Nicole (Kirsten Dunst) would seem to have everything--a car, money, a beautiful home, and a congressman father (Bruce Davison). But strained family relationships resulting from her mother's suicide have sent Nicole down a dark path of self-destructive behavior. The only light in her world of self-hate becomes Carlos, who is attracted to her free spirit. Nicole's father wants to recommend Carlos to the academy, but fears his reckless daughter has corrupted him. Has Nicole wrecked Carlos' chance of a better life? Will Carlos help Nicole gain self-respect and heal? It is difficult to care either way in this teen drama which attempts to pull on the heart strings but misses its mark.

CRAZY/BEAUTIFUL goes to great lengths to be politically correct. One example: Nicole comments on the beauty of her white skin next to Carlos' brown skin and states her father would be proud she is having sex with a person of color. Another example: Carlos is portrayed as responsible for insisting on using a condom before sex. Since political correctness does not equate with moral soundness, this film frequently strays into questionable territory. Drinking, doing drugs, having sex, and driving recklessly are depicted as normal teenage behavior. Nicole's comment "I'm 17, I'm supposed to be out of control" reveals a major message of this film. Despite his straight-laced, regimented lifestyle, Carlos makes poor moral decisions that are portrayed as romantic. In addition to the highly objectionable message, the dialogue features a high number of profanities, obscenities and various crude words throughout. CRAZY/BEAUTIFUL is equally poor in terms of entertainment and acceptability.

Preview Reviewer: John Barber
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures (Disney), 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521