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Despite the rather run-of-the-mill subject matter, Avary takes a bracingly inventive approach. Ellis has a way of cutting through surfaces brilliantly, and his style is perfectly adapted cinematically with clever visual trickery and a multi-layered approach to the story. We see everything from various perspectives; characters narrate each scene with their preconceptions and self-interests intact. As a result, we really get into their heads. It helps that the cast is gifted at tapping into the whole late-teen angst thing, which is even more intense and horrific than high school woes due to the sheer lack of restraints. Van Der Beek is especially good at catching the balance between superficial bravado, internal sensitivity and boneheaded stupidity. But Somerhalder is the standout, giving Paul a real sense of longing, not just for sex but also for real companionship and understanding. The filmmakers do go way over the top to poke fun at human stupidity and self-involvement--it's a miracle any of these people survive! Yet since they keep us laughing at the ongoing farce, we hardly feel like we're being educated. But we are.