Undiscovered (2005)

7% of critics liked it
(68 reviews)
53% of users liked it
(9,094 ratings)

Two talented young people head to California looking for fame, but find love along the way in this romantic drama. Luke (Steven Strait) is a struggling rock musician who has decided to leave New York City for the seemingly greener pastures of Los Angeles. A few days before he leaves, he spots a… More Two talented young people head to California looking for fame, but find love along the way in this romantic drama. Luke (Steven Strait) is a struggling rock musician who has decided to leave New York City for the seemingly greener pastures of Los Angeles. A few days before he leaves, he spots a beautiful girl on the subway who gives him a big smile, giving him brief second thoughts. However, Luke heads out to L.A. anyway, and after months of scuffling lands a gig -- and sees the beautiful girl, Brier (Pell James), in the audience. Brier is an aspiring actress who, like Luke, came to L.A. to boost her career; she's taking acting classes at a well-respected workshop, and has landed a less-than-glamorous but lucrative deodorant commercial. Luke and Brier strike up a friendship, though it's obvious he's interested in something deeper; as Luke tries to score a record deal, Brier and her best friend Clea (Ashlee Simpson) try to spruce up his image and create some buzz about his music. But as Luke falls hard for Brier, she develops greater qualms about getting involved with a musician who will spend half his life on the road, and their shared desire for that big break may be the thing that keeps them apart. Undiscovered also stars Carrie Fisher, Kip Pardue, and Fisher Stevens. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Meiert Avis
Written By: John Galt
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 26, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Dec 26, 2005
Studio: Lions Gate Films

Critic Reviews

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
It isn't bad enough to be good.
Christy Lemire, Associated Press
Undiscovered feels more like a pilot for a glossy nighttime soap on Fox -- probably one that would be canceled midseason -- than a feature film with even a modicum of discernible originality or depth.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
Although it's all but forgotten before the fade-out, you don't rush to turn it off, either.
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
An enjoyably cheesy teen melodrama with a touch of indie edge.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Like, sigh!
Nona Willis-Aronowitz, Village Voice
A PG-13 dramedy set in L.A. about some attractive, way-too-earnest aspiring stars has the potential to be a delectable good-bad favorite, but Undiscovered is nowhere near the guilty pleasure it could have been.
Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
Incoherent story of young artists; kids may want to see Ashlee Simpson.
David Noh, Film Journal International
It's all very tacky, overheated and derivative, like Los Angeles itself.
Scott Weinberg, DVDTalk.com
This thing makes Glitter look like gold.
Nathan Rabin, AV Club
Undiscovered would like to think of itself as a gritty, documentary-style indie about hopefuls on the fringes of the industry, but it's more like one of those lame hair-metal bands that went out and bought flannel shirts after Nirvana hit it big.
Michael Szymanski, Hollywood.com
A nice portrayal by Ashlee of a wanna-be rocker, in a music story in L.A. without drugs!
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
Ashlee's better at acting and singing than her more famous sister Jessica, but that's no great feat; might as well add that she'd make a better brain surgeon, too.
Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News (Maine)
The script is every bit as literate as the content you'd find a back issue of "Blender," with just as much eye candy to bolster the thin material. Too bad this candy is sour.
Kimberley Jones, Austin Chronicle
Simpson steals the show -- which, admittedly, isn't saying much considering her stiffest competition comes by way of a skateboarding bulldog.

Read all 14 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Emily A

I didn't expect much going in, but this movie was not too bad. It just didn't work as a comedy, and I know exactly why: the music. The soulful, easy listening rock was so wildly inappropriate and just killed the funny. There were some really good comedic performances, most… More
I didn't expect much going in, but this movie was not too bad. It just didn't work as a comedy, and I know exactly why: the music. The soulful, easy listening rock was so wildly inappropriate and just killed the funny. There were some really good comedic performances, most notably from Strait and Pardue, that would have been hilarious under better music. They should have gotten the dude who did Arrested Development's music to score this. Once I realized the defect, I actually liked this movie. It really did get good near the end. The Ashlee Simpson factor kind of sabotaged this, but it's not unsalvageable. This flick is really not too bad.
Naughtia N

I liked the songs and I especially liked the scene with the bulldog skateboarding, hehe. This was an ok movie about 2 aspiring artist trying to make it in the entertainment industry.
Yinalí R

I loved this movie!!!!
Laurence C

Tacky and criminally uninspired, Undiscovered tries to sing about authenticity and the will to ''keep on keepin' on'', but reveals itself to be completely manufactured. Every plot device can be seen coming from a mile away, and the dialogue's… More
Tacky and criminally uninspired, Undiscovered tries to sing about authenticity and the will to ''keep on keepin' on'', but reveals itself to be completely manufactured. Every plot device can be seen coming from a mile away, and the dialogue's 'spiky' touches feels dreadfully superficial, particularly when it's spat out by model-looking actors that give their strict minimum at the service of stereotypical roles. If you think real life is like this, well, lap it up, but if you like your films with something called a personality, avoid this at all costs. But Ashlee Simpson, while I would never call her an 'actress', is not bad. Seriously.

Cast

            Pell James as Brier Tucker

            Steven Strait as Luke Falcon

            Kip Pardue as Euan Falcon

            Carrie Fisher as Carrie

            Ashlee Simpson as Clea

            Shannyn Sossamon as Josie

            Stephen Moyer as Mick Benson

            Fisher Stevens as Garrett Schweck

            Perrey Reeves as Michelle

            Peter Weller as Wick Treadway

            Cameron Thor as Cameron

            Don Smith as Mint Bargirl

            Lori Heuring as Flight Attendant

            Earl Carroll as Airline Security Guard

            Ewan Chung as Brendon (Garrett's Assistant)

            Dan Callahan as Second Turk

            Vai Au-Harehoe as Trippy Nightclub Dancers

            Hannah Feldner-Shaw as Trippy Nightclub Dancers

            Brittany Ishibashi as Trapeze Instructor

            Melissa Lawner as Christy

            Shaina Fewell as Pretty Girls at Mint

            Brian Swibel as Jason From Acting Class

            Mann Alfonso as Bat Guy

            Rachel Sterling as Pretty Girls at Mint

            Stephanie Mace as Waitress at Mint

            Natasha Soudek as Stylist

            Sasha Gelbart as First Turk

            Jesse Burch as Airline Rep

            Megan Kuhlmann as Ticket Counter Agent

            Craig Watkinson as Onlooker

            Tami Humphrey as Woman

            Lauren Zelman as Bakery Waitress

            Carolina Cerisola as Trippy Nightclub Dancers

            Melissa Corss as Extra Reporter

            Tyson the Skateboarding Bulldog as Tyson
See full cast

Undiscovered (2005)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Emily A

Naughtia N

Yinalí R

Laurence C

Cast

Photos

Trailers & Clips