May 11--GRADUATION: C-
"Graduation" is a decent independent effort in the teen genre.
Childhood friends Polly (Shannon Lucio, "The O.C."), Chauncey (Riley Smith, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation") and Jackson (Chris Lowell, "Private Practice"), all neatly molded from "The Breakfast Club" template, band together to raise $100,000 for their buddy Carl's (Chris Marquette, "The Education of Charlie Banks") dying mom. She has just lost her health insurance and needs a bone marrow transplant.
These modern-day Robin Hoods plan to rob the local bank on the day of their high school graduation.
Polly's father manages the bank, and she has no problem helping orchestrate the heist. She sees their illegal act as payback for her father's affair with his assistant.
Cliches run amok in this little caper. Eighties rocker Huey Lewis plays Jackson's tragic alcoholic father, and Jackson, the slacker of the group, emerges as a misunderstood genius with the hots for good girl Polly.
The most disappointing part of "Graduation" is the ending. The writer throws a misguided curve ball that leaves too many loose ends.
Extras are important with a small film like this, and the commentary and featurette help round out the story.
Also available Tuesday: "American Idol: Season 6 Finale Performance Show -- The Top 2" (Koch, $19.99), with featurettes and bloopers; "Ballroom Bootcamp: Season One" (TLC/Genius, $14.95); "Drawn Together Season Three: Uncensored" (Comedy Central/ Paramount, $26.98), with extended episodes, commentaries and sing-along songs; "Indiana Jones: The Adventure Collection" (Lucasfilm/ Paramount, $59.98), with featurettes; and "Walk All Over Me" (Genius/Weinstein, $19.97), with featurette, deleted scene, outtakes and director/cast commentary.
"GRADUATION" Magnolia, $26.98, with director/writer commentary, featurette, deleted scenes and blooper reel, available Tuesday.
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