Crossroads

There's a reason why singers sing and actors act. "Crossroads" is a perfect example of why that's true. Featuring pop icon Britney Spears as the star of this 2002 flick, this film revolves around a road-trip with old friends. However, it lacks any adventure or excitement a typical road-trip might have. Instead, what we have is a dull script with dry humor and a predictable plot.

Directed by Tamra Davis, "Crossroads" tells the story of three best friends, Lucy, Kit, and Mimi, who have lost touch since childhood. Although the three attend the same high school, they have found themselves in different cliques...the popular crowd, the nerdy crowd, and the outcast crowd. However, as kids they promised one another that they'd open a box they buried years ago on the night of their high school graduation. When the three are forced together to open the box, Mimi, who is currently pregnant, confesses that she is going to Los Angeles to audition for a record contract. Inviting Lucy and Kit to accompany her, the two initially laugh at the idea. However, with Kit who wants to visit her fiance and Lucy who wants to meet her mother, the three set out on a road-trip across the country with some guy they just met named Ben.

Not surprisingly, the three mend their friendships during their trip.

The first thing wrong with this film is the script. Written by Shonda Rhimes, the dialogue is dry and cliche. It took no wit, no humor, and no risk to write this screenplay. Anyone, even you, could have written it.

Next, is the acting. While it might be the dialogue that forced these characters to sound contrived, the acting is so unnatural that you almost feel like laughing. This is surprising since the film features terrific stars, including Dan Aykroyd, Kim Cattrall, Zoe Saldana, Taryn Manning, and Justin Long.

With a bad combination of an uninteresting script, an unoriginal story, and unnatural acting, "Crossroads" will take you on the worst trip you can imagine.