Can't Hardly Wait (1998)

This underrated teen comedy from 1998 is guilty of being a proud underachiever, and it doesn't bring anything new to the genre, but look closely and you'll find the makings of a much better movie buried under all the keg-party antics. The basic story is typical for this kind of comedy. A young, aspiring writer named Preston (Ethan Embry) has been lusting after class beauty Amanda (Jennifer Love Hewitt, from TV's Party of Five) for four years of high school, but he's never had the nerve to tell her. Now that they're about to graduate he's finally worked up the courage to write her a soul-baring love letter. At the raucous graduation keg party that takes up most of the movie's 98 minutes, Preston agonizes while Amanda's selfish jock ex-boyfriend tries to win her back, and delivering his love letter turns out to be more difficult than he ever imagined. What's interesting about Can't Hardly Wait has little to do with its attractive leads, however. The most engagingly real and entertaining characters are the misfits who show up in the subplots, including a geek (Charlie Korsmo) who turns into the life of the party, and a pair of old friends (Seth Green, Lauren Ambrose) who confront each other about their mutual needs and insecurities. There are some really good scenes between these two, and this modest movie has a few other pleasant surprises up its sleeve. That doesn't make it particularly good, but it does make it an agreeable waste of time. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

Not another teen movie

The title of my review is very misleading because I actually really liked this movie! It was so funny and it lead to thousands of inside jokes with my friends. Oh and Seth Green was hilarious! July 6, 2008

A Stinker.

Can't Hardly Wait starring Jennifer Love Hewitt leaves nothing to the imagination. Predictable romantic teen comedy, you know what the ending will entail and the acting is pretty lame. Seth Green is pretty good but doesn't he always play the doofus? Ethan Embry is soooooooooo annoying, he acts like a little lost puppy, you just feel sorry for this guy. I really wanted to like this film but it's pure silliness, don't waste your time people. April 21, 2008

Great teen movie

One of the best teen movies out there. Funny and nostalgic! In a few years it'll be a classic (think Dazed and Confused) October 10, 2007

Movie was like brand new

I was very happy with the movie I recieved. This has been one of my favs for yrs and my previous copy was stolen. Buying a used one saved me money at a great price and the dvd was like new. August 16, 2007

A strong 3.49 stars

I'm not going to lie to you, this is a pretty cliched movie. We get social mobility, with popular kids being humiliated and nerds enjoying the limelight before the era of "geek chic." We get a guy who is talented but shy wooing a girl that doesn't have a clue who she is after four years of people pleasing (you see he has always been attracted to her inner beauty). We get assorted misfits fitting all of a sudden, and random nods at almost every teenage stereotype.

So the movie is cliched, but when it comes down to it, it is still very watchable and entertaining. It's like brat pack lite. June 30, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...