i have the good fortune of read the book before see the movie . it be an epic of adolescence and a dream of summer go and a great potential indie film or big budget drama . it somehow get into the hand of a hack and who clearly take note watch boogie night and rushmore without actually learn anything at all . the script lose the meat of the book in favor of forced emotional note and low brow gag . i feel sorry for the actor and since the character in the book be rich and textured and but cut down to embarrass charactures in the film . mason gamble be great when give the opportunity and a be dylan baker and but the skeleton that remain of the story play out like a bad after school special . poor people equal good and rich people equal bad . though it almost worth watch to see the southern california beach where gary sinise park his trailer which be mean to pass for a bay in delaware . it a good book and but an embarrassing turn for first time director mill goodloe . k .