A rich congressman's daughter with very little respect for her studies, family, and even her own life falls in love with a boy from a working class Latino neighborhood who's on the straight and narrow to H.S. graduation and naval pilot's academy.

Seems like a good set up? Apparently not good enough, because the filmmakers change the game about midway, when we learn the root of Kristen's angst. (I'll save that surprise for the film.) Certainly a good story on its own, but at the cost of the prior tale's punch.

Though extremely well acted with some excellent dialogue, the look of the film is dark, washed out, with a bluish tint - grungy, unappealing.

As a matter of personal bias, I don't enjoy watching intoxicated people on screen; hence, the grade for this film may very well be lower than those of you who don't mind that sort of thing. In fact, the other three viewers in my group enjoyed the picture; one even gave this romantic teen Los Angeles drama a full "A." As always, Kirsten's proves her talent, this time pale-faced and smashed.