Guided by James Dean, the eternal symbol of youthful rebellion, a gawky high school student obsessed with the hottest girl in class takes a crash course in teenage coolness from his motorcycle-rebel neighbor.
In 1956, shy Jonathan's luck with girls changes when he wins the rebellious Gene as a friend in his last year of high school. Gene is adored by many girls and manages to teach Jonathan a few things. Gene himself would rather just be with one girl: his girlfriend Bunny, but since his father is poor, her parents don't accept him.—Tom Zoerner <[email protected]>
Nelsonville, Ohio, 1956. With rock 'n' roll taking America's youth by storm, gawky high school student Jonathan Bellah remains the school's most unpopular kid. And obsessed with Marilyn McCauley, the hottest girl in class, Jonathan still has a long way to go before he makes a move on the woman of his dreams. But Jonathan's life is about to change forever. As Gene Harbrough, a handsome greaser and leather-clad motorcycle rebel, moves in next door, a miracle happens: the effortlessly cool newcomer offers Jonathan his romantic expertise to win the girl's heart. And just like that, Jonathan takes a crash course in teenage coolness, guided by James Dean, the eternal symbol of youthful rebellion. But first things first. Will Jonathan discover what he's been missing out on in life?—Nick Riganas
In 1956, 17-year-old Jonathan Bellah of small-town Nelsonville, Ohio is a straight-laced, inexperienced raging-hormone mass of a high-school senior hopelessly crushing on the out-of-his-league Marilyn McCauley. Then Chicagoans Gene Harbrough and his father move in next door to the Bellahs and motorcycle-riding Gene becomes Jonathan's classmate. Gene emulates the James Dean type, which generally makes him successful with the opposite sex. In befriending Jonathan, Gene vows to help him in his pursuit of Marilyn, betting that he can get Jonathan to lose his virginity with Marilyn within 30 days. Gene himself has eyes only for Bunny Miller, who is officially-unofficially dating Kenny Brubaker, son of Nelsonville's most prominent businessman. Jonathan considers Kenny an entitled creep who uses his big-man status to bully. Bunny has her eye on Gene--but so does Marilyn. Gene's own pursuit of Bunny has Kenny as an obstacle--a dangerous one, as he will let nobody supplant his rightful place with Bunny, whose parents can't wait to welcome Kenny into their family and lives. Meanwhile, Gene's own troubled homelife mirrors that of Dean's character in Rebel Without a Cause (1955).—Huggo
