I actually don’t mean the title of this post in the way that you think I do. I’m not about to start talking about another Will Ferrell comedy. I’m going to talk about the 2008 film Keith.
Sometimes in life a story resonates with you so much that you can’t get it out of your head. Keith has done that for me. Admittedly when I hired it from the video store I wasn’t expecting great things, Jesse McCartney was the key selling point for me on this movie (DON’T JUDGE ME!). But I was surprised. Very surprised.
Brief synopsis: Keith is a teenage boy, about whom we know very little. Natalie on the other hand we know a lot about. She’s the captain of nearly every club at school, star tennis player, and on the track to getting a $10 000 scholarship to Duke. Then Keith and Natalie become lab partners.
While the rest of the film is slightly predictable there were certain elements that kept me glued. Keith is not at all forthcoming with details about his life, you could say that he’s troubled but that’s not the half of it. And the further Natalie goes to try and find out about Keith, the more distant she becomes from her family, friends and the life she has worked so hard to build. A life she starts to view as pointless.
Jesse McCartney plays the kooky, enigmatic, beguiling Keith superbly, charming the pants of his audience as he seduces his lab partner. Elisabeth Harnois (who, at 29, played an extremely believable teenager) really sinks her teeth into the role of Natalie, a part that could have become affected and stagy in the wrong hands.
Ultimately this isn’t a film that will leave you too soon. Parts of the story will stay with you long after you’ve put the DVD away. Keith rates a 2 on the You, Me and Dupree scale.
Splendour in the Grass 
I know I am old. I do not know who these people are.
I see your stars and I raise you Paul Newman and Ava Gardner.
Honestly 2paw I wouldn’t expect you to know who they are. Age has little to do with it! Jesse McCartney was a teen idol about 5 years ago. He is a singer/actor. Elisabeth Harnois was new to me in this film too although after a little research I found out she had done a guest appearance on Criminal Minds.
As to your stars, of course I know who they are! Paul “Cool Hand Luke” Newman is one of my favourite actors! I would marry him tomorrow if he asked me. And Ava! The Barefoot Countessa. Oh I love her too.
🙂