Tuesday, August 5, 2003

Chicago Sun-Times

On 'The O.C.,' you can see a star arrive

BY PHIL ROSENTHAL TELEVISION CRITIC

There isn't an original thought in Fox's "The O.C.," and it turns out that matters very little.

It's the umpteenth fish-out-of-water, poor-kid-from-the-wrong-side-of-the-tracks-living-among-the-rich-snobs, mean-streets-to-easy-streets drama. Nearly every scene seems inspired by a better one in some other TV show or movie. There's almost nothing in it you haven't seen before.

Except for Benjamin McKenzie.

McKenzie is a revelation and, backed by an able cast, he is what salvages this music-infused, glossy *** soap from slick filmmakers Doug Liman and McG, which makes its debut at 8 tonight on WFLD-Channel 32.

A little-known 26-year-old stage actor making his TV debut, McKenzie has enough star quality to bluff his way through the role of Ryan Atwood, who's supposed to only be around 16. Must have an old soul.

Atwood is a budding Southern California juvenile delinquent from Chino who's brought to live among the cutthroat trust-funders in Newport Beach by his public defender, Sandy Cohen (Peter Gallagher). Cohen thinks the change of scenery will do Atwood good because all he needs is a chance, darn it.

The character types, the situations and the dialogue are way too familiar--reheated in some cases, overheated in others--and don't withstand a lot of scrutiny, as you may already sense. The class dynamics are straight out of a John Hughes movie, although the writing isn't nearly as clever.

But McKenzie, Gallagher and the rest of the camera-friendly cast sell it with such conviction that you are both willing and able to look past its failings.

So you don't burst out laughing when the menacing guy whose girlfriend is drawn to the newcomer starts a fight at the big boozy beach party with the former hood with a heart of gold.

Not even when the bully taunts: "Welcome to the O.C., bitch! This is how it's done in Orange County!"

On the printed page, that's hilarious.

In "The O.C.," you just smile and say to yourself: "I know how this is going to turn out. Maybe not this week. Maybe not next. But eventually."

And maybe part of the appeal of "The O.C." is the comfort in knowing that it's so predictable.

"Listen," McKenzie told reporters last month. "We're not doing Chekhov or Ibsen. This is a drama on Fox."

Creator Josh Schwartz certainly does nothing to make it seem as though he's interested in surprising anyone.

Ryan comes from a dead-end dysfunctional family. Mom's got an abusive boyfriend. Dad's in jail. His older brother is a loser headed to prison for the car theft with Ryan that opens the show.

Sandy's wife (Kelly Rowan) balks at his offer to take Ryan in, but eventually goes along with it--for now.

The Cohens' teen son (Adam Brody) is socially awkward but gets help from Ryan, who immediately draws the attention of all the hottie O.C. girls, including troubled next-door neighbor Marissa (Mischa Barton).

Marissa's dad (Tate Donovan) is under investigation for insider trading and used to sleep with Sandy's wife.

And so on ...

It's a little more stylish than "Beverly Hills, 90210," but you get the idea. It's not that complicated. People aren't what they initially seem to be, youngsters behave and misbehave like adults, and all perfect families have dark sides.

Fox already is talking about expanding the first-season order beyond a standard 22 or 24 episodes to as many as 30, if the show catches on--and the guess here is it will, and that McKenzie will become a breakout star.

"For these guys to say, 'Listen, why don't we cast this kid who's never done anything in the lead of a new show,' " McKenzie said. "It's a tremendous leap of faith on their part."

Welcome to "The O.C.," bitch.

This is how it's done on Fox.