[April Fools Day 2008]
Plot:Revolves around a party given by two uber rich siblings (Cole) and (Henderson) for their friend (Scout Taylor-Compton). Tragedy strikes when a friend falls over a balcony and dies. Soon after the incident...one by one, each partygoer is found dead.

Cast:Scout Taylor Compton, Jessica Stroup, Katheryn Winnick, Andrea Bogart, Beau Garrett, Taylor Cole, Josh Henderson.

My Thoughts:Death...has come to your little O.C. sheriff.

Review:Considering I loved the original 1980's movie "April Fools Day", well...loved it 98% that is. The ending really pissed me off, and that 2% I did not like. But...beyond that, it was a great film. Anyhow, considering how much, for the most part, I enjoyed it...I was kind of excited about a remake of it. I was hoping that maybe this would be what "April Fools Day" 1980 should've been. That was until they started casting, and then revealed the plot, then the pics, and then the trailer. I saw my hopes for this film go down the toilet faster than a joint at a police station bathroom. At any rate, here's "April Fools Day" 2008, a story which seems to spoof the current "The Hills" and "Laguna Beach" culture, by centering on a rich pair of siblings who have a debutant ball for one of their friends.

The party is the ushering in of their friend into polite society, so to speak. However, when a girl amed Milan, the more heartful of the group of high society teens shows up at the party, which just so happens to be being held on April 1st...Desiree (Cole), decides to play a prank on Milan who she hates. She and a few others plot to embarass her by catching her in a comprimising position. Of course, to do this...they use what any good person who plans to take advantage of someone would use...a roofee. The plan goes according to schedule, that is until the roofee has some unintended effects on Milan, and sends her careening off a balcony at the masnion and to her death below.

Of course being spoiled rich kids, no one agrees to take responsibility for Milan's untimely demise. That is until, one year later, someone decides to force them to take responsibility by sending those involved in the plot a menacing letter. The letter foreshadows death for all of them, if the guilty party does not come forward before the day of April 1st 2008 comes to a close. Unlike most remakes, this film strays way too far from what made the original so great. For starters, there's no great lead actress here. Sure, the girls are good looking, but Deborah Foreman in the original owned all of these chicks in the acting department.

Her character, a twisted prankster...always kept the film interesting by playing pranks on each of her friends while they were in the house they were staying the weekend at. But in this movie, there's no Foremanesque character, nor any assortment of gags and jokes. Instead, we get a mystery person picking off the group one by one, and the remaining kids blaming each other for the deaths and disappearances. It's far too easy to see how this film is gonna play out up until the end, which is another one of it's biggest mistakes...predictablity.

The film does hold a certain charm though, it's very glossy looking in it's set pieces and sceneries, and the comedic behavior of some of the characters can be quite comical at times...but honestly, and in all honesty...this film does not feel like "April Fools Day" 1980, nor can it work as a good companion piece for a comparison 28 years later. It's more like a spoof of the 1980's version, blended with today's popular MTV culture, as the use of cellphones, computers, handicams, and various other popular devices that weren't as influential in the 80's, are all very major parts of this film. While lacking the blood, chills, and surprises which made the original film so great. Seriously, this movie has deaths, but they are all very tame.

The acting by Taylor Cole and Josh Henderson as sister and brother isn't too bad, and Cole for what it's worth plays the evil but yet still likeable in some way role really well. Her character is certainly a bad person, but at the same time...you get the sense that she isn't all the way evil, but moreso habitually evil, meaning that she's fallen into this rich girl lifestyle so deeply that heartless behavior has become part of her persona, rather than something she enjoys participating in. Scout Taylor Compton as Torrance is likeable, until the end where she's involved in a huge twist which is set up to turn the movie on it's head, and pay homage to the original at the same time.

Unfotunately, Scout doesn't come off as believeable enough in this twist, and it only winds up working storywise 50% as oppoed to 80% or above. Things you may not have known before watching this movie? Hiding in the front seat of your car, despite being taller than the average girl...can hide you from a serial killer, all rich blonde girls are legally named Barbie, and sometimes you can accidentally shoot someone in the head and not serve any time for it. "April Fools Day" is a likeable film from the standpoint of rich kid debauchery and silliness, but if you're looking for a satisfactory update of the original movie...then just keep it moving and look elsewhere.

Positives:Cole, Henderson, and Taylor-Compton give decent performances. A few comical scenes here and there.

Negatives:A poor imitation of the original in spirit, look, feel, and characters. Terrible deaths, and the O.C./The Hills/Laguna Beach character basis were just annoying.

Overall:Decent fodder for a boring Saturday afternoon.





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