Alison (Sagemiller) and Berke (Foster), are childhood sweethearts who become romantically involved as soon as they hit their teens.

Alison is the school beauty queen and Berke is completely besotted. One day Alison decides that she can't feel the 'spark' when they kiss any more and it's time to dump the little geek and begin a courtship with Striker - the school heart-throb.

Meanwhile, heartbroken Berke refuses to accept defeat and, when the new golden couple audition for the school musical, Berke, who can't sing for toffee, takes a small role and spend every rehearsal concocting new plans to divert Alison's attention back to him.

He decides the only way he can really compete is to develop advanced musical talents and to knock the audience's socks off when the play is finally performed.

Now Berke's best friend has a conveniently pretty and of course multi-talented younger sister, Kelly (Dunst), who is enrolled to improve Berke's entertainment skills.

But what happens when you're on a mission to get back your old girl when a new blonde beauty starts to blinker your sights?

For his second feature, director Tommy O'Haver goes mainstream with this frothy teen comedy.

Although the whole 'Shakespeare on campus' theme is not new, he pulls it off with the help of a well co-ordinated and enthusiastic young cast boasting bucket-fulls of talent between them.

In charge of the Dream production is Martin Short, giving a funny performance as a bossy teacher who decrees that the play must be improved with several musical numbers: 'Bill Shakespeare was a wonderful poet, but Burt Bacharach he was not.'

Dunst and Foster are perfect for the leads. He has a very appealing, laid-back charm, while she displays a sweet, concerned demeanor. Together, they're fun to watch.

Actually Dunst - though pretty - is a klutzy riot, performing a million variations on the classic prat routine, and involving herself in some wildly hilarious scenarios that keep things unpredictable.

So what if this is just another teen comedy? Sit back, enjoy and get over it!

Natalie Stone