The Playing Instinct- Rated R- Starring Colin Hanks, Thora Birch, James Van Der Beek, Jordanna Brewster, Usher Raymond, and Joseph Gordon Levitt. Directed By Roger Kumble.

Life in high school can be hell. Its even worse when youre "uncool". What if you could change all that? What would you give? For Seth (Hanks) and Laurie (Birch) the answer is "anything" and the popular kids know this. Soon, Seth and Laurie find themselves wrapped up in a game of murder when Eddie (Van Der Beek) kills the principal for better grades and blames it on Seth and kills his girlfriend (Brewster) and frames Laurie for the murder. Seth and Laurie must uncover the lies before they give up something they never expected their lives.

REVIEWS:

"be prepared for the twists and turns that the movie has."--- Linx

TAGLINE: Youd kill to be popular? Theyre counting on it.

The Scene Opens On Seth (Colin Hanks) lying on the ground, face down. He appears to be dead. Eddie (James Van Der Beek),has a gun in his hand pointed at Seth and eventually drops it to his side. The room is dark, but you can tell that its a bedroom. Eddie says " First Mistake" The screen cuts to black and the opening credits role.

After the opening credits, the camera follows Seth as hes walking to school. Its a long walk, but he manages. As hes approaching the school, Eddie races on into the parking lot with his girlfriend Jessie (Jordanna Brewster) in his virtually new Jeep. His music is blaring loud.

The next scene is inside a classroom. Seth is sitting next to his friend Chris (Joseph Gordon Levitt) carrying on a conversation. Eddie comes in and sits down behind Seth. The teacher comes in and announces a pop quiz. Eddie panics! He didnt study at all! He tries to convice Seth to let him copy off of him. Seth says no and Eddie jabs his pencil into Seths shoulder. Seth screams. The teacher gets confused as to what happened. Eddie laughs. "This school is run by a bunch of fucking idiots" Seth says, and promptly walks out.

Later that day, we are taken to the point of view of Eddie and his ultimate popularity. Eddie, Jessie, Eddies best friend Deon (Usher Raymond) and a few others are talking by the side of Eddies jeep. They reveal there that they are playing the school and have most of the faculty wrapped around their finger. They plan tonights scam.

That night, Jessie and the principal are in his car parked outside of the school. Jessie manages to slip the keys out of the ignition and drop them outside her passenger window. Deon is hanging out on the outside and picks them up. Him and his brother sneak into the school. Jessie keeps the principals attention by having sex with him. Deon and his brother hack into the schools computer, change all their grades and sneak out. Unfortunately, they forgot to turn off the computer when they were done, which they of course dont notice. Deon waits until the two in the car are at their climax and throws them over onto the drivers side floor. Later, we find out that the principal just assumed it fell out of the ignition. Before they get out of the car, the principal proposes to Jessie. She says she has to think about it.

The next day at school, Seth and Chris are standing outside their locker when the new girl in school, Laurie (Thora Birch) opens up the locker next to them. Chris takes a liking to Laurie and asks her out. She politely declines. They all break up and head off to class. Remarkably, Seth and Laurie have their next class together. Seth and Laurie bond, but dont notice the sparks that fly between them.

After class, in the hallway, Seth walks out to see Deon and Chris fighting. Of course, Deon is more powerful than Chris and is actually kicking the crap out of him. Seth runs over and whacks Deon in the face knocking him to the ground. He then helps Chris to his feet. Everyone is stunned that this totally unpopular kid was able to do that. Laurie is equally impressed. Before the scene ends, we notice Eddie, who seems to have some look in his eye.

That night, Eddie and Jessie are over at his house. They are making out when she decides to tell him about the other night when the principal asked her to marry him. Eddie is furious, but doesnt show it. He asks Jessie to call the principal up and invite him to a secret meeting at the school. The principal says "Gimme an hour" and hangs up. Eddie and Jessie have sex. When hes finished, he breaks Jessies neck.

At about the same time, Laurie and Seth are driving down the road having a conversation. They drive past Eddies house when they see him dragging Jessies body out of the house. Laurie gets worried and decides to head back. Eddie assures them that she just passed out. He says that hes drunk and he doesnt want to drive her home. Laurie offers to drive her home. Eddie agrees. He then asks Seth to drive him to the school because he left his homework there. Seth points out that the school will be locked, and Eddie assures him that the principal will be there. They load Jessie into the backseat of Lauries car and she pulls off. Seth and Eddie are about ready to leave when Eddie offers for Seth to come in and check something out. He gives Seth a bunch of bullshit about how it takes a lot of balls to take out Deon. He says he admires him. Once inside, Eddie hands Seth a gun of his. Seth is impressed, it looks so cool. Out of nowhere, Deon hits Seth on the back of the head, knocking him unconscious.

When the screen comes back, were looking through Seths eyes. Across from him is the principal who is bound and gagged behind his desk. Eddie is behind him and holds a gun to the principals head. Eddie screams about how he loves getting away with everything and how this is his best idea yet. Seth points out that Eddies prints are on the gun. Deon walks into the room, bleeding off of the side of his face. They point out that their plan is foolproof, although they dont elaborate how. Eddie says "So Seth. Should you pull the trigger, or should I? Either way, the same thing happens." The principal begins to cry. Eddie calls him a pussy, points the gun at his crotch and shoots. The principal screams and passes out from the pain. Seth is really shocked. Even Deon seems a bit stunned. Deon tries to back out of the room, but Eddie points the gun at him. "Stay or die. Your choice" he says. Eddie then points the gun at the principals head and fires, killing the principal. Eddie instructs Deon to grab Seth and haul him out.

Around this time, Laurie reaches Jessies house. Her parents come out to the car and ask what was going on. Laurie said that Jessie had been drinking too much, apparently passed out, and Laurie decided to drive her home. When they open the car door, Jessie falls out and it becomes painfully obvious that she is dead. Laurie freaks out and drives off. She proceeds to run her car off the road and crash.

Eddie drags Seth back into his house. Deon is there too. Deon and Eddie argue about whether or not they should kill Seth. They hear a car pull up in the driveway. Its Deons younger brother who comes in the house. Eddie thinks the boy has seen too much and he snaps. Eddie kills Deons brother. Deon is heartbroken and drops to his side. Eddie proceeds to talk about how it was necessary. "Youve lost it. Youre fucking crazy!" Deon says. Deon attempts to attack Eddie, but Eddie shoots Deon 3 times in the chest. Deon dies. Eddie turns back to Seth and says "This is where youre supposed to kill me right? Be the hero?" Then it picks up from where it started. Eddie shoots Seth and says "First Mistake." Chris then walks into the room from somewhere else in the house. "Your other mistake was to trust me."

The next day at school, everyone is mourning the loss of the students, but one seems to be a bit premature. Laurie comes struggling into the school. She looks a bit tattered, but no one seems to notice. Everyone is busy consoling Eddie about his girlfriend. No one is talking to Chris. We notice Eddie get up and hug Chris, officially making him "Popular". Laurie walks over to Eddie. Everyone is shocked. Laurie begins to lay what little she figured out on the line. She didnt know much, but she pointed out that Eddie wasnt all he was cracked up to be. She also didnt put the connection of Chris in there. Chris tries to stop Laurie from going much farther. Laurie then begins to make a connection. Chris and Eddie? She points out that they like each other more than everyone thinks. She accuses them of being gay.

Other students wonder how this was a setup? Chris laughs it off, but Eddie freaks out. Everyone begins pointing at Eddie and laughing. The most popular guy in school is gay! Even though Laurie really hasnt revealed much, Eddie snaps and reveals everything. At that point, Laurie walks over to Chriss locker and opens it. Seth steps out. "Now the record is straight" Seth says. Eddie tries to attack Seth, but police walk out of nowhere and haul Eddie away. Seth, Chris, and Laurie slap each other high fives.Youd kill to be popular? Theyre counting on it. Sometimes, things arent always what they seem.

(SIDE NOTE: All apostrophes keep getting deleted. Sorry for that.)