Seventeen-year-old Jones (Elijah Wood) arrives at a university -- unless he enrolls, he can't access the sizable inheritance his grandpa left him. But after being scared off by the roommate from hell, he drops out and heads to a local sublet apartment building. The building comes with some unusual roommates: gay cowboy Brad (Aaron Pearl), sultry aspiring actress Lisa (Mandy Moore), and sullen photographer Jane (Franka Potente).

Settling into his new home, Jones bickers with his estranged mother from Texas, and writes (very imaginative) letters to the mysterious father he never knew. But to deal with the problems of his life, this confused teen will have to face up to the reality around him -- and the women who want him. Especially when he learns that the truth is harsh, and might just break his heart.

Romantic comedies are a dime a dozen, and most of them are forgotten the moment the credits roll. In contrast, "All I Want" (original title: "Try Seventeen") manages to be pretty memorable. Different settings, different characters, and a different kind of lead -- rather than a Holden Caulfield wannabe or a stud, Jones is the kind of likable kid who lives down your street.

The script is somewhat flawed. The ending is pure Hollywood cliche. And it's hard to see why Jones would prefer the alcoholic and abusive Jane over the sweeter if sluttier Lisa. However, relative directing newbie Jeffrey Porter shows plenty of quirks and humor that you won't find in any Julia Roberts comedy -- Jones daydreaming about blasting a car with a bazooka, while blonde bombshells fawn over him, is especially funny.

Elijah Wood gives a wonderfully nuanced, layered performance as Jones, a naive teenager whose life is in a tangle. Wood plays Jones as a sweet, wistful lad with some unusual quirks, but also gets to be rough'n'tough in the delicious "revenge" scene near the end. Mandy Moore shares good chemistry with him, and gives astonishing depth to what could have been a soulless role; her Lisa is flawed, but a pleasant person with regrets and personality. And most memorable is Blondie singer Debbie Harry, as a sexy matron who invades Jones's dreams.

A fun if flawed romantic comedy, "All I Want" features excellent acting from Wood and Moore, and a likably quirky sensibility. Fun and cute, and certainly worth curling up in front of.


Elijah Wood proves there is life after Frodo...   April 22, 2004
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

When I first sat down to watch this film, I was wondering, am I going tobe thinking "that's Frodo" throughout?
Well, the answer is a resounding no. Elijah captures the character ofJones perfectly in this coming of age tale, I suppose it helps that hedoes actually look young.
Elijah plays Jones Dillon, a seventeen year old who drops out of collegeon the first day and decides to rent an apartment instead. With nothingexcept a trunk and an old typewriter, he sets about fitting in with hisnew neighbours, Lisa, an aspiring actress (Mandy Moore) and the enigmaticphotographer Jane (Franka Potente.)
Realising that he will actually need some furniture at some stage, hevisits Ma Mabely's Used Furniture shop and meets Ma herself, Debbie Harry,who then guest stars in a few of his fantasies. :-)
It is slightly quirky, and Jones' fantasies are very funny, but hiding adeeper hurt. He writes letters to his unkown father but never sends them,keeping them in his trunk.
The acting of all the cast is great and thesoundtrack is fantastic, fits in well with each scene. I just loved thecharacter of Jones he seems so vulnerable and worldly at the same time(and I'm not going to complain about a shirtless Elijah! Hmm, is itgetting hot in here? Ahem!)
Excellent romantic comedy.


Whimsical, leisurely comedy   January 26, 2004
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Your response to this film will largely depend on what you were looking for when you rented/bought it. The story of 17 year old, virginal Jones Dillon certainly isn't innovative, and neither is it particularly clever, insightful, or quite as quirky as it's scriptwriters felt it to be. But neither is it 'just another teen movie'.

I certainly didn't bring any post-LotR expectations to this film, and as such I wasn't disappointed. Elijah Wood has never been more cute, more innocent, more lovably huggable as in this film. His characterisation is probably one of the film's major faults, as his relationships with the female leads only serve to make him even more vulnerable, and give the impression that he is taken advantage of by his older, more experienced co-stars... Then again, if you're not a teeny Elijah fan, the sight of him stripped and pinned to the bed by none other than Debbie Harry will certainly take care of some wish-fulfillment ;)

Watch 'All I Want' with an open mind, and be transported back to your teenage years, when your first crush felt like true love, and all your life seemed a series of disappointment. Walk with Jones through his trials, his hopes, and young infatuations, and remember when all your dreams threatened to come true. Do this, and I bet the four stars I gave this film will be warranted.


this is all i want   January 26, 2004
 3 out of 5 found this review helpful

brilliant, truely witty and a real light hearted chick flick. Jones (Wood) is new in the neighbourhood and is finding it hard to get along with his new neighbours. This film is just so enjoyable and I'm not even a big fan of chick flicks but this one I fell in love with immediately, Wood plays a seventeen year old colleger who has moved into a small apartment with some strange neighbours and all he has is a typewriter and some letters, his nearest neighbours are two stunning women and he is torn between them throughout, he has a crazy imagination that will make you laugh and deep family problems. I loved the ending, Elijah kicks ass and he is soooo very gorgous...