The negative reviews of this movie are baffling. What did people want from it? A serious, well-acted drama or a big action film? "From Justin to Kelly" (2003) is simply a fun musical and beach movie—like the Elvis films and those classic 60s beach movies. It’s obvious just by looking at the poster. When you watch movies like this, it's best to relax, switch off your thoughts, and have some entertainment. And on that level, "From Justin to Kelly" works really well. I would say it is as good or even better than most Elvis or beach movies out there. The film was shot in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area and follows young people’s romantic experiences during Spring Break. True to the genre's conventions, you won't find any crude humor or raunchy sex scenes; instead, it has a pleasant innocence about it. Another thing worth noting is that there are more women in beautiful bikinis per minute than in most films (and men too, if you’re female). As expected, the songs are shallow modern pop tunes ('modern' as in the early 2000s, which hasn’t changed much since then). I don’t usually listen to this kind of music, but it fits the upbeat and enjoyable feeling of the film. I wouldn't consider myself a big fan of American Idol, but I did enjoy watching it occasionally with my wife. Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini, the two leads in the movie, were among the more likable contestants. (And I’ll admit I liked Katharine McPhee, Bo Bice, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Kelly Pickler, and Clay Aiken too). (I'm just kidding about Aiken, haha). As you might expect, Kelly and Justin aren't great actors, but they aren't bad either; the acting isn’t really a problem as the story goes on. They did an okay job all things considered. You can’t mention American Idol without bringing up Kimberly Caldwell (from the channel station). She's certainly attractive, but she can be irritating. I bring her up because if you ever secretly wished to see her harmed, check out "Wrong Turn 2: Dead End" (2007); it’s a silly and over-the-top gorefest. It makes those fantasies come true, literally. The DVD includes the 81-minute fullscreen version of the movie as well as the 90-minute extended widescreen cut, which has some additional dance numbers. If you're looking for an innocent beach film, just let go and enjoy it! GRADE: B/B-

Source on TMDB