neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Stealing Harvard
	Bruce McCulloch Jason Lee, Tom Green, Leslie Mann, Dennis Farina, Megan Mullally, Richard Jenkins, John C. McGinley, Chris Penn, Tammy Blanchard 2002		Not-so-grand larceny. For the first few minutes of "Stealing Harvard," ingratiating Jason Lee, tough-guy Dennis Farina and pert Leslie Mann seem to be sailing into an offbeat, fairly funny comedy. John (Lee) is a nice guy who works as a medical equipment salesman; he's in love with the conservative daughter (Mann) of his mistrustful boss (Farina). Promising. Then, a pointless scenario unfolds: John needs to quickly raise $30,000 to help pay his niece's college tuition, and he'll sink to theft to get the cash. Mega-simpleton Tom Green enters the picture as John's imbecilic best friend, who's in on the schemes. Green is such a tiresome nuisance that he brings the picture to a screeching halt. Some smart-ass lines and a couple of successful gags don't improve matters, nor do ordinarily proficient cast members Megan Mullally, Richard Jenkins, John C. McGinley and Chris Penn. Hard to believe: This was directed by Bruce McCulloch of the famed Kids in the Hall comedy troupe.