Let this be a lesson to all young filmmakers — even the most familiar stories can seem fresh if they have the right cast and are done with a bit of intelligence.

Make no mistake, the plot of "crazy/beautiful" isn't exactly original — it's little more than the "ill-fated lovers" story line that's been done ad infinitum since Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet."

There are also times when the film comes off as being hokey and more than just a little preachy (comparisons to one of those TV "Afterschool Specials" wouldn't be completely out of place).

But part of the reason this teen drama works is that it features genuinely appealing characters (due in part to a genuinely appealing cast) and the fact that it rarely stoops to easy racial stereotyping.

And while "crazy/beautiful" may not be the greatest title for a movie, it's somewhat better than the film's original title — "At Seventeen," which sounds like a made-for-Lifetime cable movie.

In both cases, the title refers to Nicole Oakley (Kirsten Dunst), a privileged but troubled California high school student who's having a hard time dealing with her congressman father and her new stepmother (Bruce Davison and Lucinda Jenney, respectively).

Consequently, Nicole spends her time with such self-destructive activities as drinking and partying with her best friend, Maddy (Taryn Manning), rather than doing her schoolwork.

Meanwhile, Carlos Nu�ez (newcomer Jay Hernandez) spends his time doing more positive things. An inner-city teen who attends the same upscale high school as Nicole, he's become a straight-A student and star athlete.

To everyone's surprise, these seemingly mismatched teens begin dating. Eventually Carlos appears to be picking up some of Nicole's bad habits and self-destructive tendencies, and he finds himself in trouble for the first time.

While the conclusion to the main story line seems inevitable, things aren't quite as predictable as you might think, and director John Stockwell (making his feature film-directing debut) handles the material with a surprising amount of sensitivity.

Stockwell is fortunate to have such a good cast, especially Dunst, who's quickly turning into one of the most dependable young actresses working in Hollywood. The camera also loves her, and as a consequence, she gives a breakout performance that's both subtle and shows real chops.

To his credit, Hernandez doesn't get blown off the screen; he actually manages to hold his own with Dunst. Davison manages to subtly underplay his supporting role.

"Crazy/beautiful" is rated PG-13 for scattered profanity, simulated sex (handled discreetly), violence (athletic, as well as a brief scuffle), glimpses of drug paraphernalia and brief, partial female nudity. Running time: 95 minutes.

---

E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com