Undiscovered

Undiscovered is rated PG-13: for sexual material including dialogue, partial nudity, language and drug content.

A chance meeting on a New York subway leaves two commuters instantly smitten with one another. Unfortunately, they don't have time to exchange names, numbers or even Zodiac signs before the train doors close between them. In fact, all Luke Falcon (Steven Strait) can do is toss his glove to the lady as a sort of gallant gesture.

Two years later, Luke is a struggling musician in the apparently little out-of-the-way Los Angeles nightclub known as "The Mint" (in reality, this place has been a venue for some huge stars). He makes barely enough money to pay his parking tickets and rent. Still his commitment to his music keeps him showing up every night. Then one evening his gal pal Clea (Ashlee Simpson) shows up for his gig with a new friend, Brier Tucket (Pell James).

Brier is an East coast model who has just moved to California to pursue an acting career, and it doesn't take Luke long to realize she is his dream girl from the train. However, Brier is currently involved with a 40ish rock star. While Mick (Stephan Moyer) isn't exactly faithful when he is on a road trip, Brier isn't ready to step away. She is willing though, to help Clea drum up some publicity for Luke's musical abilities. With the help of her own agent (Carrie Fisher), Brier gets a Brazilian model (Shannyn Sossamon) and the paparazzi to show up at the bar. In no time, the media hype pays off and Luke signs a contract with a record company.

But the new rock star lifestyle isn't all it's cracked up to be and it starts to affect Luke's relationships with everyone around him, including his brother Euan (Kip Pardue). The heavy schedule, photo shoots and interviews infringe on his creative time and start to feed his ego. Luke's endless activities keep Brier at arms length as well. After her experience with Mitch, she is hesitant to become romantically involved with another man who is heading out on the concert circuit.

Drinking at nightclubs and parties is common and some of the band members rely on drugs to cope with the stress of the job. There are also the implied issues of casual relationships and easy sex (although the only nudity seen--all non-explicit--is in a modeling studio) between the singers and their groupies. Sexual dialogue and profanities are incorporated in the script as well.

Like most love stories, Luke and Brier have to work through endless obstacles including the ubiquitous airport scenario. Yet, after a while even those complications seem secondary to the film's interest in showcasing the aspiring musical careers of Ashlee Simpson and Steve Strait (lead singer for the band Tribe). Unfortunately, as the two of them take turns belting out tunes on stage, Undiscovered drones on as a romance that never hits the right note.

Studio: 2005 Lions Gate Films.

What individual career aspirations did Luke and Brier have? How did their personal goals interfere with their relationship?

How does fame affect the personal lives of stars? What are the positive and negative results of popularity? Would you be willing to give up your privacy for celebrity status in the music or movie world?

Video alternatives…

In the movie, Uptown Girls, you can catch Pell James in one of her first movie roles. Kip Pardue plays a transfer student who wants to get on the team in the football story Remember the Titans. Carrie Fisher got an early break into the film industry when she starred as Princess Leia in the 1977 classic Star Wars.

Discover Undiscovered by listening to the audio commentary by director Meiert Avis. The DVD release also provides a look behind the scenes and at the making-of, some deleted scenes and outtakes, as well as a gag reel. Audio tracks are available in English (Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0), with subtitles in English and Spanish.