Can't Hardly Wait (But You Can't Hurry Love)

Love Hewitt in CAN'T HARDLY WAIT

Jennifer Love Hewitt turns 26 today, but my mind can't age her past 19. Coincidentally she was 19 when she filmed the high school graduation party flick CAN'T HARDLY WAIT (1998). The movie skews a little young for me, but what the heck, I like the story:

Aspiring writer Preston Meyers (Ethan Embry) has had a crush on Amanda Beckett (Love Hewitt) since she transferred to Huntington Hills High as a freshman. Just before graduation, Amanda's longtime boyfriend, jock Mike Dexter (Peter Facinelli), dumps her to free himself up for college babes. Preston sees a graduation party as his chance to deliver a love letter to Amanda that he's been perfecting for four years.

In an unfortunate concidence, Preston makes his big move just after Amanda's cousin has hit on her. Fed up, Amanda lashes out at Preston, figuring he's just another player. Preston throws his letter in the trash and leaves the party, driving around, reassessing his priorities.

While Amanda sits alone at the party, Preston's letter is improbably tossed about as the guests come and go, and it ends up right in front of her. She reads it, then looks up his picture in someone's yearbook. Realizing what she's done, she leaves the party in search of Preston.

The next day, Preston is at the train station, leaving for a workshop in Boston taught by Kurt Vonnegut, when Amanda finds him. Everything works out, and according to the epilogue, they are still together.

A fairy tale for sure, but we enjoy fiction largely because what we want to happen happens. The longer it is placed in doubt (without turning us completely off) the more satisfying success becomes.

I like this movie because, no matter the ages of its stars, everyone watching has known the intensity of a school crush. I enjoy the Taming of the Shrew update TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU for similar reasons.