"Orange County" - "It's not just a place. It's a state of mind."

Writer Mike White’s satirical and clever comedy “Orange County” provides the daily-recommended amount of Vitamin C and fulfils the underlying message: “[Orange County is] not just a place. It’s a state of mind.”

Cookie-cutter “teen movie” characters such as Shawn Brumder (Colin Hanks), a surfer who retires from the waves to pursue his goal of getting into Stanford, and Lance Brumder (Jack Black), the underachiever and older brother of the family, both fuel the stereotypical scene of Orange County life.

Shawn’s struggle to escape day-to-day life and not end up like his deadbeat brother, Lance, is further complicated by an uncanny series of unfortunate events. After receiving his rejection letter from Stanford, Shawn’s world begins to crumble and everything that can go wrong does.

“Orange County” embodies the liveliness and comedic wit quintessential to any Jack Black movie; Colin Hanks, however, steals the spotlight delivering a performance reminiscent of his father’s (Tom Hanks) earlier comedic performances.

Hank’s performance, though not a hard role to fulfill, goes beyond a shallow feel-good movie, giving both his character and the plot a relatable vibe. Familiar feelings of angst and teenage stresses, such as getting into college and leaving home, are accompanied with dry humor, emphasizing paradoxical components and flaws in society today. As an aspiring writer, Hank’s character realizes his place in the plot and then creates his own ending.

Cameo performances from Chevy Chase, John Lithgow, Ben Stiller, and other “hall of fame comedians” appear throughout the film, supplying White’s comedic pursuit of irony with the humor and flair of an independent comedy that appeals to an adolescent and young adult audience.

Stylistic elements of the movie further create interest and continuity with music accompaniment and repetition. Crooked and unconventional camera angles are interspersed throughout, promoting a somewhat awkward way of looking at the world and employ a slight awkwardness associated with high school and coming of age.

More than anything, “Orange County” is witty, offering a few good laughs to an all too familiar situation.