Since You've Been Gone

If you are amused by gags like a women getting stuck to a toilet seat with superglue, or a guy sticking a sign on the back of the former class president that says "I am stupid", you will probably find it as devoid of humor as I did. Despite a good cast, the move had no plot, no real pace, and did not really explore any of the characters. The only high point was a brief glimpse of a breast belonging to Lara Flynn Boyle while doing it in a jeep in the parking lot. Otherwise, it was a lot of uninteresting conversation among a bunch of losers.

NUDITY REPORT

see the main commentary

DVD info from Amazon

IMDB readers say 5.2 of 10. It scores highest (7.2) with women under 18, and lowest (3.7) with males over 45. Put me squarely in that last group. High School reunions have been done time and again, and usually have a slasher, or at least some sexual intrigue or someone with a personal agenda to make them interesting. This film had none of that. Rather, it was as boring as a real High School reunion. While that might count as truth in film making, it does not make for entertainment, and there is nothing to be learned.

The Critics Vote

Apollo 60/100

Rotten Tomatoes summary. Five reviews on file.

The People Vote ...

IMDB summary. IMDb voters score it 5.2/10

with their dollars: made for TV

IMDb guideline: 7.5 usually indicates a level of excellence, about like three and a half stars from the critics. 6.0 usually indicates lukewarm watchability, about like two and a half stars from the critics. The fives are generally not worthwhile unless they are really your kind of material, about like two stars from the critics. Films under five are generally awful even if you like that kind of film, equivalent to about one and a half stars from the critics or less, depending on just how far below five the rating is.

My own guideline: A means the movie is so good it will appeal to you even if you hate the genre. B means the movie is not good enough to win you over if you hate the genre, but is good enough to do so if you have an open mind about this type of film. C means it will only appeal to genre addicts, and has no crossover appeal. D means you'll hate it even if you like the genre. E means that you'll hate it even if you love the genre. F means that the film is not only unappealing across-the-board, but technically inept as well.

Based on this description, C-. It is technically competent.