Looking through my comprehensive collection of DVD's recently, I decided to search on Ciao and see if there were any that
were not listed. There were two - The Adventures of Huck Finn(read my review!) and this was the other - All I want (it changed its name when it went onto video for some reason) or Try Seventeen (the original film name).

This is one of those films that probably passed many of us by - except the die-hard Elijah Wood fans (like me!) that is. I had heard of it but I never actually made the journey to go and buy it.
Until the day I visited my local library and scanned their 'Items for Sale' bookcase for something interesting with a small price tag attached.

And I found what I was looking for - a DVD for £5 with the added bonus of Elijah Wood!

THE FILM
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Released 2002
Genre - Romance, Comedy. A little of both.
Director: Jeffrey Porter

Main Cast
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Elijah Wood .... Jones
Franka Potente .... Jane
Mandy Moore .... Lisa
Chris Martin .... Steve
Deborah Harry aka Blondie .... Ma Mabley
Elizabeth Perkins .... Blanche

Story
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You're only seventeen once. For Jones Dillon, it's one time too many.

An aspiring writer, Jones Dillon is a 17 year old misfit (a little bit like me :P) with an alcoholic mother and an estranged father. Shelving his plans for college, Jones drops out and rents a room in a boarding house - where he learns more than he ever could have in any classroom.
Between longing for his mothers love, and trying to find out his fathers address, he fantasises about the things every normal 17 year old thinks about.You know what I mean ;) His first encounter is with the over-sexed Mabley the second hand shop owner, from whom Jones buys a bed, when she offers to help him break it in.
He soon becomes entangled in his neighbours lives, with his second romantic situation with the aspiring actress to be Lisa. But the person who really lights his fire is the enigmatic Jane, a photographer and an older, more mature woman. She rejects his advances, seeing him as only a child in her eyes.
When he's not chasing after the ladies or learning that living on your own has its downsides (like having to buy furniture and food) , Jones spends his time fending off questions from his mother about why he's not in college, using his fathers old typewriter to type letters to a father of which he doesn't know his address (but he stores them in a trunk for his own sanity), and indulging in an overactive fantasy life of the romantic nature.

When Jane is involved in a car accident, and one of her ex-boyfriends comes along to take care of her, Jones realizes how strong he feels about her. Enlisting another of his strange neighbours , Brad, he fights back(literally) for Jane's love.

What I thought
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All I want is an entertaining film, with a great cast and it portrays an accurate view of what it's like to be a 17 year old boy (Well I know about the 17 part but I cant say about being a boy ). The script is funny and witty (see first quote below) and it really is enjoyable to watch. Elijah portrays the part well and easily passes for a 17 year old with his boyish good looks. You can tell what his character is thinking, by just the emotion on Elijah's face and I think the casting for the film was perfect. Franka Potente was Elijah's love in real life for a short while so it probably wasn't hard to act that part. The love triangle between the three young actors works well, they all work brilliantly together and the chemistry seems real.

Quote
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* Jones: I got a motorcycle.
Blanche: Well isn't that nice. Maybe I should throw myself off this roof and save myself the trouble of having to bury you.
Jones: I don't think the fall would kill you, but you could try.

* Jones: What about you, Blanche? Are you making anyone miserable on a regular basis?

* Jones: You know, I've been some places - Texas, Delaware, three schools in New Hampshire, Kansas - not everwhere so maybe I'm wrong, but I think you're probably the most beautiful woman in the world

OVERALL
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Overall I give the film an 8.5/10. This is because I did get a little bit confused about what was going on about half way through the film, when Jones was having those fantasies of his. Also in parts I did find they were trying too hard to be funny and this spoiled the film a little bit for me. The witty script and good casting make this film a must see. Although I recommend you rent it first to see if its your thing. Its like marmite - some people hate it, some like it and some love it. I'm in the second category although Elijah Wood does make it better for me!

THE DVD
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The case I have is red and the front and back covers show pictures of Elijah, Mandy and Franka. Inside there is also a little insert booklet that lists the chapters.

This film was in the cinema for a very short time and went straight to DVD. The DVD itself is nothing special and the special features have much to be desired.
The disc's only extras are four trailers - one of them for All I Want. I would have liked to have seen anything to do with the filming of the film, like a bloopers reel or a fly on the wall documentary.
As it is I am happy enough with the film, but I feel some extra content would have improved the experience.

OVERALL
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One to look out for. Teenagers will probably relate to it and parents may want to watch it to see what their kids are thinking - you may be shocked! Not one of Elijahs best films but certainly one to watch on your own, with friends, or with a date.
I have found it at
sendit.com - £6.99 or for only £3.50 used on amazon.co.uk

Thanks for reading.