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Jan 28, 2018andreajesse rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Having grown up in and around Palo Alto, I was intrigued by the title and, frankly, some of the characters do remind me of some of my more unsavory classmates. For this reason, I may be biased against this movie. The characters are sort of cardboard cut-outs of the bad boys, sluts, trash-talkers, and then there is sweet, innocent April (Emma Roberts). She has but one vice. She smokes. Apparently, the story is drawn from James Franco's 'Palo Alto Stories.' He stars in the movie as the soccer coach who goes after sweet April. I'm fine with that as a plot device, but I couldn't help but think about how Franco is one, of many, getting accused of sexual misconduct in real life lately. The very accusations are that he pursued under-aged girls. I want to think that he was merely studying up for this role. I like Franco and he does a good job in the film as do all players. I hope that the accusations are untrue or at least highly exaggerated. Gia Coppola, like her sister Sophia, has revealed herself as a very competent director. Both sisters seem drawn to disaffected youth. Both make films that are beautifully shot. I would say they each have bright futures in the business.