Directed by Adam Larson Broder and Tony R. Abrams.

Although I had never heard of the movie ?Pumpkin?, I thought it is a romantic comedy, it should be worth a watch. After the first hour I would have to say that I wasn?t disappointed in my film choice, but unfortunately it was all basically down hill from then and the film lost it?s way. Hollywood has become a little too liberal with the use of the word comedy in my opinion.

?Pumpkin? tells the story of Carolyn McDuffy (Chrsitina Ricci) a member of the sorority ?Alpha Omega Pi? at SCSU (a fictional college ? Southern California State University) who has it all. She is rich, popular and well respected amongst her sorority sisters and has won the heart of the star tennis player on campus, Kent Woodlands (Sam Ball). Her world begins to fall apart when her sorority decides to help disabled athletes train for the ?Challenged Games? in an attempt to win ?Sorority of the Year? from their rivals ?Omega Omega Omega?. The girls are sooooooooo shallow and will do whatever it takes to win this coveted prize.

Although reluctant initially, Carolyn is asked to be a mentor for Pumpkin Romanoff (Hank Harris), a ?special? boy who is generally wheelchair bound. She begins to help him with his discus throwing and soon finds that they have a connection (like all the girls on the TV show ?The Bachelor? have). Pumpkin is falling for Carolyn and she feels that he truly understands her and begins to fall in love with him as well. It is another example of that old opposites attract clich?. Pumpkin is flourishing after meeting Carolyn. He is talking more fluently and getting around without the wheelchair a lot more, much to his mother?s amazement.

Unfortunately, Carolyn?s life heads in the opposite direction. Pumpkin?s mum, Judy, (Brenda Blethyn) doesn?t approve of their relationship. The sorority has sent her to ?Coventry? for missing an important meeting and Kent?s tennis game and their relationship falls apart. In desperation, Carolyn moves back home. However, in an effort to win ?Sorority of the Year?, her sisters visit her at home and convince her to return to the sorority and to go to the Sorority Ball with Kent who still loves her even though he could have any girl on campus that he desired.

There?s a confrontation at the Sorority Ball when Carolyn and Kent are completing their first dance and Pumpkin shows up to reclaim the girl he loves. From here the movie takes a bit of a bizarre twist and becomes a little too depressing and dark for my liking. The film winds up being a little too unbelievable as well. I will say no more because I don?t want to give the ending away. If this movie still appeals then you will just have to see what happens to the main players yourself.

I can see why this was another example of a straight to DVD film in Australia, it would really have limited mainstream appeal. I can also see why it took so long to be released on DVD (the film was actually shot back in 1992). The film could have finished more neatly earlier on, it had a tendency to drag on a little and I found myself watching the clock yet again.

Christina Ricci as Carolyn is not really likeable and runs away from her problems rather than dealing with them. She also interferes in other people?s lives, this is most evident when she tries to set Pumpkin up with her horizontally unchallenged friend Ci Ci. However, Pumpkin is quite the opposite. He knows what he wants and will do whatever it takes to get it, including stealing his mum?s car when he can?t even drive. He really is a breath of fresh air in this film and the only real highlight for me. What a cutie!! The sorority sisters are just clones and all seem to share the same opinion as each other. Kent Woodlands is your typical jock, he has a beautiful body and a very high opinion of himself.

There are some humorous moments in the film but some bad writing and acting as well. Dominique Swain, one of the more well known actresses in a film full of ?nobodies? has again chosen a bad film to appear in. That girl is in need of an ?Extreme Makeover? as well. What?s with the hair, girlfriend?

Finally, if you are looking for a film to lift up your spirits, this is not the film for you. If you want to be entertained for the full 113 minutes then avoid this film as well. If you are a fan of the independent and quirky films, then this may be worth a watch. It won?t be getting another showing on our home cinema. We all associate pumpkins with Halloween. This movie would surely be the ?trick? rather than the ?treat?.

This film is supposed to be a comedy but wasn?t particularly funny. Many of the characters are not likeable and the story loses its way half way through the film. There are not a lot of special features available on this DVD, other than the theatrical trailer, and the only language option is English. The film is presented in a widescreen format with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound.

THE EXTRAS

Other than scene selection (24 scenes in choose from), the only other special feature was a short theatrical trailer. The trailer made the film appear interesting. They always do, don?t they!

CONCLUSION

Carolyn McDuffy (Christina Ricci) has it all. She has a rich family, a gorgeous boyfriend who also happens to be the University?s star tennis player and is a member of one of the top sororities. Her world is turned upside down when her sorority volunteers to work with the ?Challenge Games? athletes and she is assigned Pumpkin Romanoff (Hank Harris) who is usually confined to a wheelchair. Pumpkin and Carolyn fall in love, much to the dismay of Pumpkin?s mother, Judy (Brenda Blethyn), her sorority sisters and of course her boyfriend, Kent Woodlands. True love never runs smooth and this romance must withstand more obstacles than most and prejudices.