The In Crowd (2000)

Everyone Seems To Have Been Hired On The Basis Of How They Look In A Swimsuit
This saga of catfights between gorgeous rich bitches--none of who seem to own a bra--is almost a documentary of how to make an awful movie. With its scantily-clad babes, lurid lesbian come-ons and innuendo-laden lines like "Didn't mean to get you all wet," The In Crowd aspires to Showgirls levels of camp, but while the cast of that much-adored stripper opus did nothing but act, the denizens of The In Crowd couldn't act their way out of a Ziploc.

Susan Ward (straight from her masterful work on NBC's canceled "Sunset Beach") stars as Brittany, the teen queen of a hoity-toity summer resort. Lori Heuring is reformed psycho Adrien, who becomes a cabana girl at Ward's decadent hot spot. Ward takes Heuring under her wing, and soon, Bad Things start to happen. Is any of it believable? Only if you think bisexual teen seductresses exist in the real world. (See WILD THINGS and CRUEL INTENTIONS for further examination of this epidemic.)

Not surprisingly, the whole feminist nightmare was conceived by two men, who, while writing, must have had one hand on the computer and one hand on something else. Meanwhile, Mary Lambert directs as if she is still making Madonna videos: transparently gay actors are cast as womanizers, Ward's lip-gloss plays a supporting role and everyone else seems to have been hired on the basis of how they look in a swimsuit. Politicians will also note how sex, drugs and booze abound in this PG-13 movie totally aimed at teens. Offensive? Nah, just laughably inane. Kudos to Ward, who gleefully dives into her low-rent Basic Instinct-predator role, even if she is woefully ill-equipped to carry it off.

For the DVD lovers out there, there is a hilariously knowing, self-deprecating commentary by Ward and Heuring (who are now our two favorite people in the world) as well as deleted scenes and interviews with the cast (one of whom is clearly on drugs).

It would seem that Warner Bros. studio executives (circa 2000) would most likely rather die than release an edgy, thought-provoking film. Thankfully, they bankrolled this steller Bad Movies laugh-a-thon, which, justifiably, didn't make a plug nickel.

For lovers of unintentional camp and Bad Movies We Love, THE IN CROWD is a must see. A worthy addition alongside such modern day misfires as THE TEMP, THE CRUSH, SINGLE WHITE FEMALE and BASIC INSTINCT 2. All others should stay far away.

The In Crowd
It's surprising that this movie actually got a theatrical release. "The In Crowd" feels like a sub-par straight to video movie. It feels like the filmmakers couldn't decide whether to make a drama or a thriller. It ends up being neither. The drama parts are uninteresting, the "thrills" don't come until the last ten minutes and by then you've already lost all interest in the movie. The pace is sleep inducing. I'm sorry I wasted my time and I was glad when it was over. Don't waste your time and definately don't waste your money on it.

The In Crowd
It's surprising that this movie actually got a theatrical release. "The In Crowd" feels like a sub-par straight to video movie. It feels like the filmmakers couldn't decide whether to make a drama or a thriller. It ends up being neither. The drama parts are uninteresting, the "thrills" don't come until the last ten minutes and by then you've already lost all interest in the movie. The pace is sleep inducing. I'm sorry I wasted my time and I was glad when it was over. Don't waste your time and definately don't waste your money on it.