Those of you who remember Tom Hanks from such wacky 80s comedies as "Bachelor Party" and "Splash" will feel a shudder of déjá vu watching his son Colin's performance in this likeable comedy.
But there is a lot more to Jake Kasdan's second movie than its 24-year-old leading man's uncanny resemblance to his famous pa.
For one thing it has "Shallow Hal" star Jack Black, seemingly channelling the ghost of John Belushi as Hanks' perpetually stoned older brother, Lance.
And then there's the wealth of cameos from the likes of Kevin Kline, Lily Tomlin, and Ben Stiller, who appeared in Kasdan's debut feature "Zero Effect".
The plot revolves around Shaun (Hanks), a Californian teen whose dreams of leaving his dysfunctional family and becoming a writer are shattered when he is rejected by the prestigious Stanford University.
Not to be deterred, Shaun and his unstable sibling set off to Stanford, where they end up accidentally doping the Dean (Ramis) and setting the admissions office on fire.
Though full of such anarchic moments, the script, written by Mike White of "Chuck & Buck" fame, also has a subversive, satirical vein that sets it apart from the usual roster of dumb-and-dumber romps.
And while the references to Faulkner, Hemingway, and Joyce seem a tad clumsy, they at least lift the film above the standard yoof fare.
Hanks, incidentally, isn't the only second-generation talent showcased here. Kasdan is the son of writer-director Lawrence, while Colin's romantic interest, Schuyler Fisk, is the daughter of Sissy Spacek.
"Orange County" opens in UK cinemas on Friday 8th November 2002.
Orange County (2002)
