Art That Rests in Sleepers
Some artists subscribe to the idea that true creativity emerges when one explores his or her limitations. One trait of good directors is their ability to quickly find solutions to unforeseen problems. And director Robert Iscove has these characteristics, as he was given the limiting constraints of the pg rating on a movie using reality tv contestants as actors.

From Justin to Kelly is a David Lynchian Mickey Mouse Club starring Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini, the winner and runner up of American Idol's first season, respectively. It's a twisted world set during Miami beach's Spring break where the removal of alcohol and sexual debauchery yields spontaneous singing and synchronized dancing.

In this brightly colored masterpiece Justin prowls the beach as the aptly named "Mayor of Spring Break". Only in Robert Iscove's world is Justin the hunkiest of teenaged testosterone--the humanized love child of Sideshow Bob and a Snickers bar on a stick. Like most beach side hunks, Justin wears a t-shirt throughout the whole movie--to show off his baggy shirt (a refreshing characteristic of a sunbaked leading man).

Girls Girls Girls...
Justin is part of a male trio who call themselves the "Pennsylvania Posse". On his one side is trusty Eddie, an awkward nerd who planned on meeting his online girlfriend at the beach. A suspense is built on the fact that he may or may not meet her. A notable scene in this progressive family movie, is when Eddie questions his sexual identity as he flirtatiously fumbles with a much older man at the Tiki bar.

On the other side of the spectrum is Justin's other friend, Brandon--the mack daddying player who also freestyle raps on the side. What separates him from this classic archetype is that this flighty voiced white kid speaks with a slight lisp. His money making party schemes constantly gets him into trouble with a female beach cop and it's only natural that she is enamored by this lisping pimp by the end of the film.

...And Girls Girls Girls
Justin sets his eyes on the female portion of this star studded film. Kelly is the cynical Texan who was dragged there by her two friends: a thirty year old fair skinned Alexa, and her anti-pasty counterpart, Kaya, who prefers older Latino busboys.

Kelly's anti-Spring break attitude makes her the unattainable goddess in a whole different world from Justin's party central air. Ignited with jealousy, Alexa sabotages the stars' budding relationship by instigating one miscommunication after the other.

It's 4am and I'm Wearing Socks
Every supporting character's story bobs and weaves throughout Kelly and Justin's drama. This lends plenty of opportunities for dance numbers and hair raising scenes such as the whipped cream bikini contest (where girls wearing nothing but whipped cream watch two guys playfully smear each other with the fluffy dessert topping), or the action packed duel for Kelly's heart (Kelly's Texan stalker and Justin ride on hovercrafts--trying to toss beanbags into each other's vehicle).

Where They Stand
There is a conversational topic in every moment of this surreality and it rivals with the films of the Olsen twins (considered by many buffs to be the best of the "high school acting" subgenre). Even the overrated musicals of today don't compare to From Justin to Kelly, which utilized a ground breaking duet sung with inner monologues.

If this were a rainbow colored ice cream flavor, it would be a genre fusion swirl that keeps you guessing: is it a romance? is it a comedy? is it a horror flick? What this movie isn't is a tired film with an unpredictable twist ending. From Justin to Kelly thrives on pure hard work and lip synching.