Main Cast: Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini, Katherine Bailess, Anika Noni Rose, Greg Siff
Release Year: 2003
Country: US
Run Time: 81 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
From the producer and writer of Spice World and the director of She's All That comes this musical comedy inspired by and featuring the stars of Fox's hit reality show American Idol. Starring the winner and runner-up of the show's first season, Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini, as slightly fictionalized versions of themselves, From Justin to Kelly attempts to recreate the atmosphere of the fun-loving beach musicals of the 1960s. When Kelly (Clarkson) and Justin (Guarini) embark on a vacation in search of some fun in the sun with their respective groups of friends, the two meet and fall for each other at first sight. Unfortunately, a series of comedic mishaps and hijinks gets in the way of them getting together. Several song-and-dance numbers ensue. In addition to Clarkson and Guarini, the film stars Greg Siff, Brian Dietzen, and Katherine Bailess. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
Brian Dietzen - Eddie; Jason Yribar - Carlos; Theresa San-Nicholas - Officer Cutler; Justin George - Greg; Kaitlin Riley - Ashley; Renee Robertson - Brianna; Yamil Piedra - Darren; Marc Macaulay - Mr. O'Mara; Toi Svane Stepp - Lizzie; Brandon Henschel
Credit
Nicklas A. Farrantello - Art Director, Lori S. Wyman - Casting, Roger Messenden - Casting, Travis Payne - Choreography, Bob Engelman - Co-producer, Niki Boella - Co-producer, Bobbie Read - Costume Designer, Gary Sales - First Assistant Director, Robert Iscove - Director, Casey O. Rohrs - Editor, Simon Fuller - Executive Producer, Michael Wandmacher - Composer (Music Score), Michael Fey - Musical Direction/Supervision, Charles Rosen - Production Designer, Francis Kenny - Cinematographer, John Steven Agoglia - Producer, Gayla Aspinall - Producer, Regina McLarney - Set Designer, Mark Weber - Sound/Sound Designer, Kim Fuller - Screenwriter, Tirsa Hackshaw - Additional Editing
The film is set during spring break in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Texan singing waitress Kelly Taylor meets Pennsylvanian college student Justin Bell, and they fall for each other, and various romantic complications ensue. Kelly's friend Kaya falls in love with charming busboy Carlos; Kelly's other friend, Alexa, schemes to keep Justin and Kelly from meeting; Justin's friend Brandon is always getting on the wrong side of a sexy beach patrolwoman; and Justin's other friend, Eddie, tries to hook up with a cyberpal.[1]
From Justin to Kelly was a box office bomb, grossing only $5 million, and received a 9% rating out of 52 reviews at Rotten Tomatoes. Entertainment Weekly film critic Owen Gleiberman wrote in his review, "How bad is From Justin to Kelly? Set in Miami during spring break, it's like Grease: The Next Generation acted out by the food-court staff at SeaWorld."[2]
Some theater chains threatened not to screen the movie at all when distributor 20th Century Fox announced plans to rush it to VHS and DVD a mere six weeks after its opening weekend, but Fox ultimately relented and pushed the release date back a number of months. After the opening-weekend flop, Fox reinstated the original release schedule.
The movie was better received by the Teen Choice Awards, as it was nominated for Choice Summer Movie and Choice Chemistry. Clarkson was nominated for Choice Breakout Movie Star, Female and Choice Crossover Artist.
Awards
year
result
award
Category
2003
Nomination
Teen choice Awards
Choice Movie Breakout Star (Female), Kelly Clarkson
Choice Movie Breakout Star (Male), Justin Guarini
Choice Movie Chemistry, Kelly Clarkson & Justin Guarini
Worst Screen Couple (Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini)
2005
Won
Worst Musical of Our First 25 Years
Soundtrack
A commercial soundtrack for the film was created with studio tracks but never released, due to the poor reception and income of the movie. However, a version of the song "Timeless", sung by Clarkson and Guarini, and recorded prior to the movie, was included on Guarini's debut album, Justin Guarini. The tracks of the unreleased studio soundtrack can be found on various Clarkson fansites. Two songs, "From Me to You" and "It's Meant To Be", did not appear in the theatrical release, but were added to the extended version DVD release. Clarkson also performed "The Bounce (The Luv)", and "Timeless" during her shared (with Clay Aiken) "Independent Tour" in 2003 with her male backup singer performing the male vocals on "Timeless".
Songs used in the movie and soundtrack (in order of appearance):
"I Won't Stand In Line" (Original artist: Reba McEntire)
