Unlimitedia Sick Product of a Sick System

TrueHello Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Senteur As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

westinowich Elijah Wood does a terrific job in this movie! The only thing that shines brighter in this movie is how 'LOVE' is portrayed (i am absolutely fascinated by this part of the movie). Other than that, the movie is quite poor. Elijah Woods voice-over is a pretty decent addition, however the acting in general among the rest of the actors is not satisfying. Except from the main character this movie is pretty dull (ths might even have been on purpose, to state that the surrounding world is dull - i however don't think this is the case).If you're not that critical with the technical details in a movie and seek a great love-film (i really dislike this concept normally - i was very surprised with this movie), then i highly recommend this movie!Innovation: 2 - Acting: 2 - Directing: 6 - Elijah Wood: 7 - Overall: 4,25

MBunge There are some cute moments here and a talented group of actors giving their all to stretch those moments into something more. Working against that is a terribly contrived story and a director who overindulges in one of the worst modern movie clichés. The result is a film that's equal parts endearing and eye-rollingly frustrating. If I had to do a commentary track for All I Want, it would be nothing but alternating expressions of "Well, that was nice" and "Oh, come on!"Jones Dillon (Elijah Wood) is a 17 year old college freshman who arrives on campus dragging a huge trunk behind him. After a few bad experiences on his first day, Jones drops out and uses his grandfather's money to rent a room in a boarding house. Once there, he's befriended by the wise gay guy who lives downstairs (Aaron Pearl) and bounces between the two women who live upstairs (Franka Portente and Mandy Moore), all the while having phone conversations with his mother in Texas (Elizabeth Perkins) that range from studied indifference to anger that she won't tell Jones the identity of his father.This is a coming of age tale where Jones' experiences on his own transform him from aimless and silently needy virgin to…well, I'm not exactly sure what he's supposed to be at the end, other than no longer a virgin. Along the way, there are some interesting scenes watching Jones interact with Franka Portente's closed off and difficult break-up victim and Mandy Moore's self-centered and manipulative but more available aspiring actress. The script also has a neat undercurrent of the geographic and interpersonal realities of life in a boarding house. There's enough of that stuff sprinkled through the movie that I was never entirely ready to give up on it.I came close, though, on several occasions. Jones is not a real person. He's a couple of well worn quirks and a general projection of passive cluelessness. That this 17 year with no job, no prospects, no ambition and nothing to offer would be like catnip to the two older women of the house was one of the first eye-rolling elements to All I Want. Jones' estrangement from his mother and yearning for his father feels prefabricated and inserted into the story, like a mobile home plopped into a vacant lot. Jones also has the recurring fantasies about beautiful women and at the end of the film, he shuts the door on that sort of daydreaming. The problem is that all of the fantasies but one are nothing but sight gags. They have no significance to anything else and the only meaning they could have is Oedipal, because he usually fantasizes about the women when he's on the phone with his mother. When and how he finally gives up these daydreams, however, doesn't really make sense in any oedipal fashion. It's like the fantasies where nothing but filler and then the filmmakers forgot that and thought this particular plot thread needed some resolution. It didn't.The most irritating thing about this movie is director Jeffrey Porter's far too frequent use of a beyond tired storytelling trick. It's the one where there's a segue between scenes or a mini-montage supposed to indicate the emotions a character is going through and the soundtrack wells up with this pop or alt-rock song, depending on the genre of the movie. I'm not sure when this technique came into vogue but it was a long time ago. Like all clichés, it retains some of its original effectiveness so I can tolerate a filmmaker resorting to it once. Maybe twice. Porter does it repeatedly and it gets more annoying every time.I liked Portente's and Moore's performances and putting them into a love triangle with a guy more believable and energetic than Jones Dillon would have produced a much better motion picture. As it is, All I want is never better than okay. You can do worse than watch this thing but you can also do better. It depends on how hard you're willing to look.

~* Mandy *~ (SBLOMS) All I Want/Try Seventeen is a fresh, beautiful film about one young man's struggles as he travels along the bumpy path of growing up. This film was absolutely brilliant- the script, the way it was filmed, and especially the music all worked together to make it a refreshing change from the normal teen movies of today. Not to mention the acting- Elijah Wood did a wonderful job of portraying his character, Jones Dillon. He gave just the right amount of depth and feeling to his character without overacting. Hollywood could do with more young actors like Elijah Wood. He knows how to give a real, stirring, heartfelt performance and he give his all, which is apparent in this film. Equally good performances came from Mandy Moore and Franka Potente. If you remember what it's like to be around that age, on the brink of adulthood but not quite there yet, you will enjoy this film!

countrugensmom I could not have enjoyed this movie more. To watch a young man of great intelligence and humor but woefully lacking in social graces find his place in the world was a joy. The coming of age angst was a trip down memory lane for me. I related to way too much of the film for my own comfort. The apartment building and it's eclectic band of residents left me wondering, "Are there any vacancies?" Seeing Jones' journey into manhood was a priceless trip. As he faces his demons and the failings in those around him he begins to discover the meaning of his life. His practicing of opening the wine bottles was hilarious. Who here hasn't practiced looking cool? Honestly? I have and his journey rang true. Elijah Wood is a truly gifted man. Once again he has become his character. Mandy Moore impressed me yet again in her fearless acceptance of roles that make her look like an idiot. The entire cast was well chosen. Let me take this opportunity to mention that the scene where Jones loses his virginity is the hottest love scene I've witnessed since Mel Gibson and Piper Laurie's love scene in Tim. and that's saying something. I'm not sure what...but it's something. Very hot.