LOVE WRECKED

REVIEWED BY RISSI C.

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Because of: some language, sensuality

Rated:

School’s out and Jenny Taylor (Amanda Bynes) is going with her best friend Ryan (Jonathan Bennett) to work at a hotel resort for the school summer job program. Jenny is a crazy fan of pop star Jason Masters (Chris Carmack). When she learns Jason is staying at the same resort, she is ecstatic. After a brief encounter in which he remarks she’s beautiful, Jenny becomes determined to officially meet him. Telling Ryan that she and Jason really had a connection, she decides to sneak on the pirate cruise Jason is on. During the trip, a storm comes up and Jason is thrown overboard. Jenny jumps in to save him, and they are lost at sea.

When morning comes, Jenny and Jason find themselves marooned on an island miles from their resort. With Jason injured, Jenny decides to go exploring in order to find food for them. While looking for food she discovers that they are really still on their island. Happy to be safe, Jenny rushes back to tell Jason. When Jason tells her he thought she had left and he wouldn’t be able to do this without her, Jenny attempts to keep it a secret where they really are, making him believe that she is really finding all their food on the island. During their long stay “marooned” together, Jenny and Jason get to know each other and Jenny begins to fall for her idol. After Ryan finds out Jenny is still alive and well, she talks him into helping her. Telling Jenny she’s crazy for kidnapping a mega media star, Ryan gives in and helps her keep up the charade. Unfortunately for Jenny, as the popular saying goes…all good things must come to an end. 

The whole theme of the movie revolves around Jenny attempting to keep their whereabouts a secret, which isn’t good as she isn’t being truthful with Jason. While I am not for anything that encourages being untruthful, I am always looking for a new fun comedy that you just have a good laugh over. This falls in that category. Amanda is quickly becoming one of my favorite actresses; I am hoping she will be an entertainer I will be able to follow without being too disturbed by the negative aspects in her films. In the end, Jenny learns something important and she makes it right.

This is a PG rated TV movie right on the edge of a PG-13 rating. There isn’t a lot of content, but there’s enough implied for me to question weather or not it should just be a “parental guidance” movie. Ryan questions Jenny’s father to see if it’s okay that he and Jenny are going to be living together during their jobs. The resort manager tells Jenny and Ryan there isn’t to be any relations between them, something they deny, saying they aren’t together. There are two scenes of native men and women dancing, dressed scantily. Jenny is in her bikini more than half the time, and the rest of the time is dressed inappropriately. When Ryan comes back to their room, he finds Jenny taking a shower; when she steps out he hugs her (the camera shows a shot of her bare upper back). She remarks that he’s looking at her naked and that it’s awkward. There are a few references that Jason has had many one night stands. He is shown caressing a woman. Jenny’s parents are also going on vacation and remark that they’ll be enjoying themselves on nude beaches. A minor character that works with Ryan is always flirting with the girls at the resort. There is some language sprinkled throughout.

Once again Amanda shines! She makes all of her characters look natural, as if the acting is effortless for her. The opening scene has Jenny and Ryan at one of Jason’s concerts, and Amanda gives a perfect portrayal of a crazy fan of a teen star. Weather she’s heading over to England to meet the father she’s never known, pretending to be her brother to get back at her ex, or helping her best friend even the score with a big time movie director, she is always hilarious. Her expressions and actions are priceless. Chris Carmack is convincingly good as a pop star. One minute he’s panicky about being lost at sea and the next he suddenly realizes that he’s alone with a beautiful girl.

I had first read about Love Wrecked two years ago. Thinking it sounded like a charming romantic comedy, I was anxious for it to come to theaters. Imagine my surprise when not being able to find any more information on it. About five months ago when looking at the TV schedule, I saw it was on the family channel and was excited to be able to finally see it. Unlike Hilary Duff, Amanda seems like she really has a natural talent for comedy. While this may seem to be just a typical teen flick, it is well worth seeing. There are several laugh-out-loud moments. One of Jason’s people is always answering the two phones of Jason’s agents and often has a phone in his ear. While he is normally in the background, it’s really amusing every time you see him. This doesn’t have a unique or clever ending, but it is delightful and just makes you feel good. If you have a rainy afternoon free call your girlfriends and check out Love Wrecked. You may actually be surprised by how much you enjoy it.