Desert Blue MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +1 1/2 Content: -2

In the fictional town of Baxter, California, six teens have an experience that none of them had ever dreamed of. It all begins with a semi crashing on the highway, and spilling its contents out onto the road. Nearly everyone in the town is exposed to the unknown substance (the secret ingredient in Empire Cola). So when the driver of the truck mysteriously dies later that evening, the FBI quarantines the town. Among the teens stuck in the town are Skye (Kate Hudson), an up and coming actress who is just passing through. Also present are Blue (Brendan Sexton III) whose father recently passed away, and Ely Jackson (Christina Ricci) who is the local rebellious teen she likes to blow things up. Once the teens find themselves trapped in the town, they want nothing more than to get out, and over the following days they have numerous talks about life, love, and what they would do if they were allowed to leave. DESERT BLUE is a refreshing look at teen life, in light of recent releases filled with sex, violence, and crude humor. However, due to its meandering plot and lack of publicity, it should not put up big numbers at the box office.

Most of the townspeople are overly suspicious of the government and big business. The nearby Empire Cola plant remains a constant example of all that is wrong with large companies. Likewise, the FBI agents are constantly hiding information from the people, making the gap between government and civilian seem even wider. The film also explores the simple life in small town America, contrasting it with the business-like attitude of the big city. All of this makes for interesting discussion, in spite of the fact that the film could have done much more with it. There are several references to sex, and one character wears a shirt without an undergarment. The worst part of the content is the foul language, with 27 f-words, 26 s-words, and 10 regular profanities. Therefore the language sadly spoils this unique and refreshing look at the ups and downs of teenage life.

Preview Reviewer: John Adair
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films, 10203 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90067-6403