''Palo Alto'' is a 2007 independent film that is set in

Palo Alto, California Palo Alto (; Spanish language, Spanish for "tall stick") is a charter city in the northwestern corner of Santa Clara County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area, named after a Sequoia sempervirens, coastal redwood tree kno ...

and was made by Brad Leong, Tony Vallone, and Daniel Engelhardt, three filmmakers who are locals of that city. The plot centers on four college freshmen on their last night of

Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Philippines. It is also observed in the Netherlander town of Leiden and ...

break, their first time back since leaving for school. ''Palo Alto'' stars

Aaron Ashmore Aaron Richard Ashmore (born October 7, 1979) is a Canadian actor. He is known for his roles on American television series such as Jimmy Olsen on ''Smallville'', Steve Jinks on '' Warehouse 13'' and Johnny Jaqobis on the Canadian television series ...

Johnny Lewis Jonathan Kendrick Lewis (October 29, 1983 – September 26, 2012), also credited as Johnny K. Lewis, was an American film and television actor. He played Kip "Half-Sack" Epps in the first two seasons of the FX (TV channel), FX series ''Sons of A ...

Justin Mentell Justin Michael Mentell (December 16, 1982 – February 1, 2010) was an American artist and actor. He was best known for his role as Garrett Wells on ''Boston Legal''. He died in a car accident in Iowa County, Wisconsin. Life and career Ment ...

Autumn Reeser Autumn Reeser (born September 21, 1980) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Taylor Townsend on the Fox series ''The O.C.'', Lizzie Grant on HBO's ''Entourage'', Katie Andrews on ABC's ''No Ordinary Family'', and Leslie Bellcamp ...

Ben Savage Bennett Joseph Savage (born September 13, 1980) is an American actor. He played the lead role of Cory Matthews on the ABC sitcom ''Boy Meets World'' (1993–2000) and its Disney Channel sequel ''Girl Meets World'' (2014–2017). Early life Sava ...

and

Tom Arnold Tom Arnold may refer to: * Tom Arnold (actor) (born 1959), American actor * Tom Arnold (economist) (born 1948), Irish CEO of Concern Worldwide * Tom Arnold (footballer) (1878–?), English footballer * Tom Arnold (literary scholar) (1823–1900), ...

Plot

The film opens with four college freshmen—Alec, Nolan, Patrick and Ryan—sneaking into an old classroom to retrieve an item confiscated by a freshman high school teacher. Their conversation is interrupted when campus security discovers them. The friends dart through the halls of the school and manage to avoid capture. Now in front of Palo Alto High, the friends say their goodbyes for the evening. Alone and concerned his night will end with no excitement, Alec befriends an older fraternity brother, Anthony. The two quickly bond through mutual initiation stories, and the admiration Alec has for the more experienced partier. On a school bus, Morgan, in his twenty-fifth year as a bus driver, discovers his old passenger Nolan at a public bus stop. The two catch up and Morgan tries his luck as cupid by inviting a young girl on board (Jaime). Nolan and Jaime continue, inventing adventures. Patrick is visiting Amy, his girlfriend of four years. Patrick attempts to explain his vision of the future, which, of course, includes Amy. She quickly cuts him off to break his heart and destroy his neatly planned life. When Ryan arrives at Audrey's house, he expects to get some action and leave quickly. He is shocked to hear she wants more than a physical relationship. Disgusted with his reaction, Audrey steals his car – leaving him stranded with her grandmother. The two hit the streets in her aging automobile looking for Audrey. The four boys' stories continue throughout the night, briefly intersecting, before the sun rises and they all leave home again.

Cast

as Alec *

as Nolan *

as Ryane *

as Jaime *

as Patrick *

Ryan Hansen Ryan Hansen is an American actor, entrepreneur and comedian. He is best known for starring as Dick Casablancas on the noir drama series ''Veronica Mars'' (2004–2019), as Kyle Bradway on the Starz comedy series ''Party Down'' (2009–2010), and ...

as Anthony * Connor Ross as Andrew *

Eve Brent Jean Ann Ewers (September 11, 1929 – August 27, 2011), known professionally as Eve Brent and Jean Lewis, was an American actress known for her role as Jane in ''Tarzan's Fight for Life''. Biography Early years Born as Jean Ann Ewers in Houst ...

as Susan Pierce *

Shoshana Bush Shoshana Gloriella Bush (born September 18, 1988) is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for her role in the film ''Dance Flick'' (2009). Her aunt was actress Bonnie Franklin. Career Bush is a native of Tiburon, California. She has ...

as Audrey *

as Morgan * Robin Hines as Becky * Matthew Castellana as Danny Yates * Jason McMahon as Dave, the Stoner * Edward Singletary as Doctor * Hailey Bright as Jessica * Christina DeRosa as Ashley * Jay Joshua Hoffman as Jay Bob * Alona Lewis as EMT * Luka Apt as Party Boy

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Palo Alto 2007 films 2007 comedy-drama films American comedy-drama films American independent films Films set in Palo Alto, California Thanksgiving in films 2007 comedy films 2007 drama films 2007 independent films 2000s English-language films 2000s American films