Teen-oriented 'crazy/beautiful' takes on edgy, adult issues

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For a teen romance starring baby-faced Kirsten Dunst, "crazy/beautiful" tackles some pretty grown-up issues: alcoholism, sex, suicide and interracial relationships.

Dunst plays Nicole, the troubled daughter of a wealthy California congressman, who falls for Carlos (newcomer Jay Hernandez), an ambitious, straight-A student from the wrong side of town. Sure, the Romeo-and-Juliet thing has been done before, but director John Stockwell pulls it off with his two promising leads.

What starts as a rebellious flirtation soon develops into true romance - in one cozy scene, she tells him he's beautiful, he calls her crazy - but the relationship is threatened by Nicole's self-destructive behavior, a result of her mother's suicide.

The darker role is a departure for Dunst, 19, who most recently starred as the sweet girl next door in "Get Over It" and a ditzy cheerleader in "Bring It On." Although much of her "bad-girl" persona is one big cliché - she boozes at school, parties hard and acts promiscuous - Dunst performs well, especially when her character is allowed to do more than act drunk and rebellious. Particularly touching is a weepy reconciliation scene with her father, played with just the right amount of "I-love-my-daughter-but-she's-crazy" fatherly concern by Bruce Davison.

"crazy/beautiful" * * ½ With Kirsten Dunst and Jay Hernandez. Directed by John Stockwell. 95 minutes. Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving teens, drug/alcohol content, sexuality and language. Various theaters.

Certainly, "crazy/beautiful" is grittier and edgier than your typical teen-romance flick (and includes a sex scene almost too steamy for a PG-13 rating), but it remains pretty superficial when it comes to exploring serious topics.

Perhaps that's to be expected from a film aimed at teenagers, as is the obligatory happy ending.

Pam Sitt can be reached at 206-464-2376 or psitt@seattletimes.com.