Comedy

Stay Cool

ComedyDramaRomance

An author who returns to his hometown to deliver a commencement address to a class of graduating high school students has to deal with his feelings for an old flame as well as the advances of a student who has the hots for him.

Year

2011

Duration

1h 34m

IMDb

4.9

Trailer

Cast

Michael Polish

Director

Winona Ryder

Scarlet Smith

Mark Polish

Henry McCarthy

Sean Astin

Big Girl

Hilary Duff

Shasta O'Neil

Josh Holloway

Wino

Jon Cryer

Javier

Chevy Chase

Principal Marshall

Jessica St. Clair

Darcy Portola

Frances Conroy

Mrs. Leuchtenberger

Marc Blucas

Brad Nelson

Joanna Cassidy

Mrs. Smith

Dee Wallace

Mrs. McCarthy

Michael Gross

Mr. McCarthy

Ken Johnson

Mr. O'Neil

Jessica Schatz

Mrs. O'Neil

Scott Michael Campbell

Officer Bird

BA

Blake Adams

Cop

Catherine Black

Goth Girl

Mark Polish

Writer

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Comments

10 comments

🍫Diivaa🍫🍫Nov 22, 2022

the title says it stay cool i say stay away or stay fool i am a Hilary duff fan as i have seen many of her films she;s not a action lady like Maggie Q she does romantic and comedy films some of her films are bad but many of them are underrated but this time she chooses the wrong script its a Winona Ryder film the story is about high school nostalgia that never ends with young guys in a kids movie someone should do age check before casting. the plot:an author returns to his home and meets his old crush there plus Shasta O Niel is looking for her chances with the author how things turns out the answer lies in this film. the cast:Winona Ryded looks nice Sean Austin mark polish and all guys did well but what was Hilary duff doing there here there is nothing written for her character she was just embarrassing herself. i am not saying its about kids its a film for adults and young guys but the actors were behaving like kids everyone was having Jim Carey effect i guess some of them cant say proper dialog's. overall if you are a fan of Hilary duff like me then do watch this but be warned this film is extremely annoying.my rating is 3/10.skipp it

JustLaugh😂Nov 22, 2022

I wasn't sure what to expect from this Stay Cool - another stupid comedy for teens? Well, luckily it isn't. It's an authentic depiction of dealing with the past and unfinished business. Successful but unhappy author Henry is meant to deliver a speech at his former high school to motivate and raise the spirits of the students. Thing is Henry is not feeling it. He still struggles with his high school memories. Labelled a geek and unloved back then the trauma of rejection and being unpopular hasn't gone away 20 years later. Will he finally get the girl of his dreams, confront the bully and become a cherished celebrity some want him to be? Will the book he wrote about his problematic youth help or hurt? There are no simple answers in this movie, just a quest for finding an identity that allows you to stay afloat in this world that is far from perfect despite high living standards.

NgaramaNov 22, 2022

Henry (Mark Polish, who also wrote this movie) was a shy geek in high school. Now, many years after he left his small city, he's a mildly famous author. His most recent novel chronicled his own teen years, thinly disguised, especially his love for a fellow student, Scarlet (Winona Ryder). Quite unexpectedly, Henry finds himself traveling back to his roots when the current high principal (Chevy Chase) asks him to speak at the latest class graduation. No matter that HE doesn't even remember Hank, head educator wants FAMOUS. Reluctantly, Henry agrees to do it. But, all his old horrors come rushing back. First, his parents treat him like he's still a kid, needing to know where he's going and what time the car will be returned. Then, his old, grouchy English teacher (Frances Bay) insists on seeing Henry's speech beforehand, so she can evaluate it. Next, one of his oldest pals (Sean Astin) has come out of the closet and runs the local hair salon. Finally, Scarlet is now a pharmacist, beautiful still, but going through a messy divorce from the bully who used to make Hank's life miserable. Yet, will anything truly stop Henry from trying, once and for all, to get close to Scarlet? Even as a darling senior (Hillary Duff) makes a play for Henry, too? This pleasant film will please romcom fans; its totally cool for this crowd. But, it apes other films such as Romy and Michelle or any comedy about class reunions. From what I understand, the Polish brothers, one writes, one directs, have made some unique movies, beginning with Twin Falls Idaho and going on to The Astronaut Farmer. However, this one, despite its small charms, great cast, nice scenery, lovely costumes, polished script, and worthy direction is nothing out of the ordinary. Perhaps the Polishes wanted to do something more "normal" this time around. And, they should be commended for joining forces to write, direct, and act in their own films. Yet, unless you truly like romantic comedies, this movie is probably not their definitive collaboration.

~{Hasan Marwan}~Nov 22, 2022

This is a light comedy. Henry McCarthy (Mark Polish) is an author of some renown. He has written a fictional book about his High School years, although in reality it is about his own experiences with some name changes. There is a bunch of first person narration in the film which are actual readings from the book. The names of the characters he reads don't match up with those they refer to making it slightly confusing at first until you realize Lauren is Scarlet. Henry comes back in town and lives at home with his parents and borrows their car. He is at his old High School to connect with the current senior class so he can be the commencement speaker at graduation. During this time his whole teenage angst returns as he tries to connect with Scarlet. Scarlet is a pharmacist played by Winona Ryder, which is humorous on a different level. Her ex-bf Brad is the gym teacher. He and Henry get into it and are sent to the principle's office, who is played by Chevy Chase. In order to make things more difficult, bombshell student Hilary Duff throws herself at him. Toward the end of the film, some people from his high school finally read his book and realize they are in it. The book Henry wrote was about how Lionel (Ritchie) got him laid, although it was a Kenny Loggins song that inspires him at the end of the film. Sean Astin was perhaps the bright spot, playing a gay. Except for him, much of the acting was flat. Mark Polish, who wrote the script was dull as the lead. The movie attempted to create those wonderful indie characters, but failed primarily due to the lack of good memorable lines and Polish's flat performance. I could picture Adam Sandler playing that part. The movie is clever in that it is able to recreate the entire high school scene for Harry as an adult. This is a chick flick written by a guy. It might suffice as a date night rental. I perhaps overrated the film because I enjoy watching Sean Astin, Chevy Chase, Hilary Duff, and of course Winona Ryder can steal any scene. No f-bombs, sex, or nudity.

Sceaver F OsuteyeNov 22, 2022

There was very little to like about this movie. The two biggest problems were the main character, who had zero charisma, and the cringy relationship between a 37 year old man and an 18 year old high school student. Mark Polish might be a fine actor, although I can't think of anything he's done that I remember seeing. But in this movie he was dull. I didn't feel anything for his character and I honestly couldn't care about him or his problems. His performance was the acting equivalent of watching grass grow. The second problem was his relationship with Hillary Duff's character. First of all, why was he hanging out at the high school every day? He was just there to give the commencement speech. Does that require you to go to class when you graduated 20 years ago? Anyway, the whole "high school girl falls for an inappropriate older man" could have been entertaining and funny. Instead, even though he never acted on it, you get the feeling that he would have been happy to, if he wasn't worried about the scandal. The whole thing was creepy! Winona Ryder was pretty bad as well, and Sean Aston's take on a gay character was far from Oscar worthy. In fact, nearly the entire cast was uninspiring, which is sad because this movie had some well known actors. I would have rated this a 1 star movie, except that Hillary Duff actually did a good job. Her character stole the show. The music was also good, but there's no way I could give this turd more than 3 stars!

user1117757000624Nov 22, 2022

This was a fairly amusing movie but some things just didn't make sense. The lead actor was supposed to give a commencement but was for some reason attending class just like a student. Also, the hottest girl in school just happens to be drawn to him. Then there is a scene with him being pulled over by a cop who of course is an old classmate of his (Garden State anyone?). Then the lead gets pummeled outside his girlfriend's house by her estranged husband/ex and she doesn't even look out the window to see how the fight turned out much less call the police? We're supposed to believe that she just stayed inside on her couch as if nothing happened. Again, this gets points for being fun but it could have been so much more.

Amenan EstherNov 22, 2022

If you read the critics reviews, you'll believe this film is just dribble. In fact, it's a very deep film delving into the high school memories of Henry McCarthy. It's a story about going back to the roots of ones hometown and facing the reality of what time has brought. It's a very relatable film and story for many who were underdogs in high school. The cast was exceptional, especially Winona Ryder and Chevy Chase who are usually in low rated films nowadays. The story is very well written for an almost unknown underrated film. It's definitely enjoyable and will bring up familiar memories of your own high school days.

La carte qui gagneNov 22, 2022

This a particularly dreary Rom Com from the days of endless awful Rom Coms. The lead/writer is pathetic, its like everyone feels sorry for him. Otherwise, this is the sort of project agents get their struggling has been clients, like Chevy Chase, Winona Ryder, Sean Astin, etc., Was this a tax write-off?

✅🇲🇦الأناني🇲🇦✅Nov 22, 2022

Main character is awful just looking at his stupid face sucks the life out of me.

Vicky SangtaniNov 22, 2022

Henry McCarthy(Mark Polish)is a successful author who returns to her hometown to deliver a closing speech to a class of graduating high school students while he has to deal with his former object of love(Winona Ryder)and his past as a nerd in search of himself.How this adorable comedy has fought to find a theatrically release is inexplicable to me.It's a beautiful film with some touching moments and funny situations as well.It is imbued with a sense of nostalgia and regret for the lost occasions but at the same time the lead will be able to come in terms with it and to accept it so he could live his future.I think that "Stay Cool"is a really underrated movie given the usual comedies who tries to portray this kind of topics we always see.Mark Polish is good while Winona Ryder gives a very captivating and genuine performance,although her role is not too demanding.The supporting cast varies from really good(Sean Astin,Josh Holloway,Chevy Chase)to merely ornamental(Hilary Duff who plays a pretty version of herself).My vote of the film is 7/10