Editing From Justin to Kelly

{{short description|2003 film by Robert Iscove}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = From Justin to Kelly
| image          = From-justin-to-kelly.jpg
| alt            = On a beach setting, a young woman has her arms around a young man with the film's title in semi-pleasant cursive underneath followed by the credits.
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Robert Iscove]]
| producer       = {{plainlist|
* Robert Engelman
* Nikki Boella
}}
| writer         = [[Kim Fuller]]
| starring       = {{plainlist|
<!--You must keep this consistent with the film poster per WP:MOSFILM -->
* [[Kelly Clarkson]]
* [[Justin Guarini]]
}}
| music          = {{plainlist|
* [[Gregory Siff]]
* [[Michael Wandmacher]]
}}
| cinematography = [[Francis Kenny]]
| editing        = {{plainlist|
* Tirsa Hackshaw
* Casey O. Rohrs
}}
| studio         = [[19 Entertainment]]
| distributor    = [[20th Century Fox]]
| released       = {{Film date|2003|06|20}}
| runtime        = 81 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $12 million<ref name="mojo"/>
| gross          = $4.9 million<ref name="mojo"/>
}}

'''''From Justin to Kelly''''' is a 2003 American [[Musical film|musical]] [[romantic comedy]] film, written by [[Kim Fuller]] and directed by [[Robert Iscove]]. The movie features [[Kelly Clarkson]], the winner of the [[American Idol (season 1)|first season]] of ''[[American Idol]]'', and [[Justin Guarini]], the runner-up. A critical and [[box-office bomb|commercial failure]], the film received the [[24th Golden Raspberry Awards|Golden Raspberry Award]] for "Worst 'Musical' of Our First 25 Years" in 2005. It has gained a reputation as [[List of films considered the worst#From Justin to Kelly (2003)|one of the worst movies ever made]].

==Plot==
In [[Texas]], Kelly Taylor works as a waitress and singer at a bar where she attracts the attention of many cowboys, including Luke. Her college classmates, Alexa and Kaya, invite her to join them on a [[spring break]] vacation in [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]]. Despite finding the typical spring break activities demeaning, Kelly decides to go on the trip to escape her miserable job. In Miami, college student Justin Bell is also on vacation with his friends Brandon and Eddie, who run a [[Promoter (entertainment)|party promoter]] business called BR&J.

Upon arriving in Fort Lauderdale, Kelly, Alexa, and Kaya attend a beach concert where Kelly first encounters Justin. During the concert, Justin and Brandon offer Eddie dating advice before leaving. Later, Justin and Kelly search for each other at a party, eventually finding each other in a bathroom. Kelly attempts to give Justin her phone number on a napkin but misses, causing it to fall into a puddle. Unable to retrieve her number, Kelly leaves. Justin then asks Alexa for Kelly's number, but Alexa gives him her own number instead, pretending it is Kelly's. That night, she texts Justin, pretending to be Kelly, and rejects his advances. Meanwhile, Kaya begins a romantic relationship with Carlos, a busboy, and they enjoy a night out at a [[Salsa music|Salsa]] club.

The next day, Alexa signs up Kelly for BR&J's whipped cream [[Swimsuit competition|bikini contest]], hoping to observe Justin's character. Kelly initially feels angry at Justin for participating in such a degrading event, but they later run into each other at a [[food truck]]. They decide to go on a boat ride together and connect during their time on the boat. They make plans to meet at the beach the following night. Meanwhile, Brandon receives a ticket for hosting the contest without a permit, and Kaya complains to Carlos' boss about his mistreatment, resulting in Carlos being fired.

Alexa, pretending to be Kelly, texts Justin and instructs him to meet her at a bar instead of the beach. Alexa sings about her desire for love, and when Justin arrives, she tells him that Kelly has a boyfriend back home. She calls Luke and asks him to come to Florida. Eddie continues his search for his online date but gets beaten up by a jock and misses their rendezvous.

Later, Kelly feels upset when Justin fails to show up at the beach. Luke appears and claims that Kelly is his girlfriend. Luke and Justin decide to settle their differences through a [[hovercraft]] race, but Luke gets injured during the race. Brandon receives another ticket, this time from Cutler, the police officer, for gambling on the race. Justin seeks advice from Alexa on how to win Kelly back, but Alexa kisses him, which Kelly witnesses. Carlos becomes angry with Kaya for interfering in his life but later realizes he should have stood up to his boss earlier. He apologizes to Kaya by arranging a romantic dinner for them in a pool.

Kelly watches from a distance as Alexa approaches, pretending to want food. Kelly confronts her about Luke and Justin, and Alexa lies, claiming that Justin called her and said he only wanted to be with Alexa. Kelly apologizes. Later, at a bar, the girls are dancing when Justin arrives and tries to get Kelly's attention. She leaves, and he follows her, confronting her about her recent behavior. Kelly reveals what Alexa told her, and they argue. Kelly realizes something is amiss as Justin storms off. Back inside, Kelly picks up Alexa's phone when it falls and discovers the messages between her and Justin. Alexa confesses to being jealous of the attention Kelly receives from guys. Kelly leaves, and Justin approaches her. Alexa tells Kelly she stopped Justin and admits to trying to keep them apart. She arranges for Justin and Kelly to reunite.

The following day, Justin and Kelly, Kaya and Carlos, Brandon and Cutler, and Eddie and Lizzie all dance at a pool party, enjoying their time together.

==Cast==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Kelly Clarkson]] as Kelly Taylor
* [[Justin Guarini]] as Justin Bell
* [[Katherine Bailess]] as Alexa
* [[Anika Noni Rose]] as Kaya
* [[Brian Dietzen]] as Eddie
* [[Greg Siff]] as Brandon
* Jason Yribar as Carlos
* Christopher Bryan as Luke
* Theresa San-Nicholas as Officer Cutler
* Justin Gorence as Greg
* [[Kaitlin Riley]] as Ashley
* [[Marc Macaulay]] as Mr. O'Mara
* [[Jessica Sutta]] as Nadine
* [[Zach Woodlee|Zachary Woodlee]] and [[Robert Hoffman (actor)|Robert Hoffman]] as Featured Dancers
}}

==Production==
''From Justin to Kelly'' was produced within a relatively short timeframe of approximately two and a half months. During this period, three weeks were allocated for actor readings of the script, which were accompanied by ongoing script revisions. Additionally, this timeframe also encompassed rehearsals for dances and singing prior to the commencement of the six-week shooting schedule.<ref name="Tugend2003">{{cite web |last=Tugend |first=Alina |date=June 8, 2003 |title=It's no contest |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jun-08-ca-q-a8-story.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818212242/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jun-08-ca-q-a8-story.html |archivedate=August 18, 2021 |accessdate=August 18, 2021 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> [[R. J. Helton]] and [[Christina Christian]], both former ''American Idol'' competitors, paid visits to the film's set; however, they do not make appearances in the final cut of the movie.<ref name="Tugend2003" />

==Release==
Some theater chains were concerned when distributor [[20th Century Studios|20th Century Fox]] announced its intention to release the film on [[VHS]] and [[DVD]] a mere six weeks after its opening weekend. In response, they threatened not to screen the film at all. However, Fox eventually changed its stance and delayed the release by several months. Following a disappointing performance during its initial weekend, Fox decided to revert to the original release schedule, and the film was eventually made available to the public through home media on August 26, 2003.

==Reception==
===Box office===
In its opening weekend, ''From Justin to Kelly'' grossed $2,715,848 in 2,001 theaters in the United States and Canada, ranking #11 at the box office.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2003&wknd=25&p=.htm | title=Weekend Box Office Results for June 20-22, 2003 | work=[[Box Office Mojo]] | publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]] | date=June 23, 2003 | access-date=October 21, 2014 | archive-date=October 9, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009195938/http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2003&wknd=25&p=.htm | url-status=live }}</ref> By the end of its run on July 24, 2003, the film had grossed $4,928,883 in the domestic box office. Based on a $12 million budget, the film was a [[box-office bomb]].<ref name="mojo">{{cite web | url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=fromjustintokelly.htm | title=From Justin to Kelly (2003) | work=Box Office Mojo | publisher=Internet Movie Database | date=July 25, 2003 | access-date=October 21, 2014 | archive-date=October 10, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010165219/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=fromjustintokelly.htm | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Critical reception===
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|score=8|average=3.1|count=63|consensus=A notorious stinker, ''From Justin To Kelly'' features banal songs, a witless plot, and non-existent chemistry between its American Idol-sanctioned leads.|ref=|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/from_justin_to_kelly/ | title=From Justin to Kelly | work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] | publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]] | access-date=May 5, 2022 | archive-date=May 12, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512220820/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/from_justin_to_kelly | url-status=live }}</ref> {{Metacritic film prose|14|16|access-date=23 May 2025}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/from-justin-to-kelly | title=From Justin to Kelly | work=[[Metacritic]] | publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] | access-date=October 21, 2014 | archive-date=October 5, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005223404/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/from-justin-to-kelly | url-status=live }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cinemascore.com/|title=CinemaScore|website=[[CinemaScore]]|access-date=September 21, 2020|archive-date=June 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616113816/https://www.cinemascore.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' film critic [[Owen Gleiberman]] wrote in his review, "How bad is ''From Justin to Kelly''? Set in Miami during spring break, it's like ''[[Grease (film)|Grease]]: The Next Generation'' acted out by the food-court staff at [[SeaWorld]]."<ref name="ew">{{cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,452286~1~0~fromjustintokelly,00.html|title=Movie Review From Justin to Kelly (2003)|date=May 23, 2003|access-date=July 21, 2009|publisher=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|last=Gleiberman|first=Owen|archive-date=August 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813122409/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,452286~1~0~fromjustintokelly,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine described the film as "a monstrous ''Idol'' movie musical that in the most generous light is the worst film so far this century".<ref name="time">[[Josh Tyrangiel|Tyrangiel, Josh]] (February 5, 2006). [https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,1156616,00.html "Miss Independent"] . ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''.</ref>

===Reception from Clarkson===
Clarkson has since stated that before the film went into production, she pleaded with the creator of ''American Idol'' to be relieved from the contractual obligation to star in the film and that she has always disliked ''From Justin to Kelly''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.refinery29.com/2017/09/173883/kelly-clarkson-from-justin-to-kelly-american-idol|title=Kelly Clarkson Really, Really, Didn't Want to Win "American Idol"|access-date=June 30, 2018|archive-date=June 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630025028/https://www.refinery29.com/2017/09/173883/kelly-clarkson-from-justin-to-kelly-american-idol|url-status=live}}</ref> In an interview, she admitted participating in the film only because she was contractually obligated to do so: "I knew when I read the script it was going to be real, real bad, but when I won, I signed that piece of paper, and I could not get out of it."<ref name="time"/>

=== Accolades ===
The film is listed in [[Golden Raspberry Award]] founder John Wilson's book ''The Official Razzie Movie Guide'' as one of the 100 Most Enjoyably Bad Movies Ever Made.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=John|title=The Official Razzie Movie Guide: Enjoying the Best of Hollywood's Worst |year=2005|publisher=Grand Central Publishing|isbn=0-446-69334-0}}</ref>

The choreography was considered so bad that a special Golden Raspberry "Governor's Award" was created as an excuse to present the film with a Razzie.

''[[Total Film]]'' magazine ranked the film at number 16 in their list of "66 Worst Movies Of All Time".<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Josh |last=Winning |title=66 Worst Movies of All Time: 17. From Justin To Kelly (2003) |magazine=[[Total Film]] |url=http://www.totalfilm.com/features/66-worst-movies-of-all-time/from-justin-to-kelly-2003 |date=February 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219083040/http://www.totalfilm.com/features/66-worst-movies-of-all-time/from-justin-to-kelly-2003 |archive-date=February 19, 2012}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Award
! Category
! Recipient
! Result
|-
| [[Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards 2003|Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards]]
| colspan="2"| [[Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Worst Film|Worst Film]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="9"| [[24th Golden Raspberry Awards|Golden Raspberry Awards {{small|(2003)}}]]<ref>{{cite press release |title=24th Annual Golden Raspberry (Razzie®) Award Nominations |url=http://www.razzies.com/asp/24thNominations.htm |website=Razzies.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040128024628/http://www.razzies.com/asp/24thNominations.htm |archive-date=January 28, 2004 |date=March 18, 2004 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=The 24th Annual Razzie® Awards 'Winners' Announced |url=http://www.razzies.com/asp/24thAwards.htm |website=Razzies.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040316032100/http://www.razzies.com/asp/24thAwards.htm |archive-date=March 16, 2004 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture|Worst Picture]]
| Robert Engelman and Nikki Boella
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director|Worst Director]]
| [[Robert Iscove]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor|Worst Actor]]
| [[Justin Guarini]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress|Worst Actress]]
| [[Kelly Clarkson]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay|Worst Screenplay]]
| [[Kim Fuller]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Combo|Worst Screen Couple]]
| Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel|Worst Prequel or Sequel]]
| ''From Justin to Kelly'' {{small|(remake of both ''[[Where the Boys Are]]'' and ''[[Where the Boys Are '84]]'')}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| colspan="2"| Worst Excuse for an Actual Movie (All Concept/No Content)
| {{nom}}
|-
| Governor's Award for Distinguished Under-Achievement in Choreography
| [[Travis Payne]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[25th Golden Raspberry Awards|Golden Raspberry Awards {{small|(2004)}}]]
| colspan="2"| Worst "Musical" of Our First 25 Years
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="8"| [[2003 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards|Stinkers Bad Movie Awards]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/year/2003/2003st.htm |title=2003 26th Hastings Bad Cinema Society Stinkers Awards |access-date=March 30, 2013 |department=[[Stinkers Bad Movie Awards]] |work=Los Angeles Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103154944/http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/year/2003/2003st.htm |archive-date=January 3, 2007 }}</ref>
| Worst Picture
| Robert Engelman and Nikki Boella
| {{nom}}
|-
| Worst Director
| Robert Iscove
| {{nom}}
|-
| Worst Actor
| Justin Guarini
| {{nom}}
|-
| Worst Actress
| Kelly Clarkson
| {{nom}}
|-
| Worst On-Screen Couple
| Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini
| {{nom}}
|-
| Worst On-Screen Group
| The Pennsylvania Posse
| {{nom}}
|-
| Most Annoying Fake Accent (Female)
| Kelly Clarkson
| {{nom}}
|-
| Worst Song or Song Performance in a Film or Its End Credits
| "Anytime" by Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[2003 Teen Choice Awards|Teen Choice Awards]]<ref name=Billboard>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/70551/2003-teen-choice-awards-nominees|title=2003 Teen Choice Awards Nominees|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|date=June 18, 2003|access-date=May 20, 2015}}</ref>
| Choice Movie Chemistry
| Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini
| {{nom}}
|-
| Choice Breakout Movie Actor
| Justin Guarini
| {{nom}}
|-
| Choice Breakout Movie Actress
| Kelly Clarkson
| {{nom}}
|}

==Home media==
The [[DVD]] release includes an extended version of 90 minutes which has two new musical numbers, "From Me to You" and "Brighter Star", additional lyrics, more sensual choreography to "Wish Upon a Star", and a scene involving a "Dare to Be Bare" contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/7238/from-justin-to-kelly-special-edition/|title=From Justin To Kelly (Special Edition)|last=Beierle|first=Aaron|work=[[DVD Talk]]|date=August 14, 2003|access-date=June 28, 2015|archive-date=September 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923172446/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/7238/from-justin-to-kelly-special-edition/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
A commercial soundtrack with studio tracks was produced but remains unreleased due to the film's negative reception and unsatisfactory box office returns. However, a version of the song "[[Timeless (Zhang Liyin song)|Timeless]]", sung by Clarkson and Guarini, and recorded prior to the film, was included on Guarini's [[Justin Guarini (album)|self-titled debut album]]. The tracks of the unreleased studio soundtrack can be found on various Clarkson fan sites. Two songs, "From Me to You" and "Brighter Star", did not appear in the theatrical release, but were added to the extended version DVD release. Clarkson also performed "The Bounce (The Luv)", and "Timeless" during her shared (with [[Clay Aiken]]) "Independent Tour" in 2003 with her male backup singer performing the male vocals on "Timeless".

Songs used in the film and soundtrack (in order of appearance):
# "I Won't Stand in Line" (Original artist: [[Reba McEntire]])
# "[[Vacation (The Go-Go's song)|Vacation]]" (Original artist: [[The Go-Go's]])
# "The Bounce (The Luv)"
# "Brandon's Rap"
# "Forever Part of Me"
# "It's Meant to Be"
# "[[Timeless (Zhang Liyin song)|Timeless]]" (Also released on Guarini's debut CD ''[[Justin Guarini (album)|Justin Guarini]]'')
# "Brighter Star" (Extended version)
# "Wish Upon a Star"
# "Anytime" (Alternate version on Clarkson's debut CD ''[[Thankful (Kelly Clarkson album)|Thankful]]'')
# "Madness"
# "Timeless (Reprise)"
# "From Me to You" (Extended version)
# "Anytime (Reprise)"
# "[[That's the Way (I Like It)]]" (Lyrically changed cover of a song by [[KC and the Sunshine Band]])
# "Sugar"

== See also ==
* [[List of films considered the worst]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0339034}}
* {{mojo title|fromjustintokelly}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|from_justin_to_kelly}}
* {{Metacritic film}}

{{American Idol}}
{{Robert Iscove}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:From Justin To Kelly}}
[[Category:2003 films]]
[[Category:2003 romantic comedy films]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:2000s musical comedy films]]
[[Category:2000s romantic musical films]]
[[Category:20th Century Fox films]]
[[Category:American Idol]]
[[Category:American musical comedy films]]
[[Category:American romantic comedy films]]
[[Category:American romantic musical films]]
[[Category:Beach party films]]
[[Category:English-language musical comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language romantic comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language romantic musical films]]
[[Category:Films about music and musicians]]
[[Category:Films about spring break]]
[[Category:Films directed by Robert Iscove]]
[[Category:Films scored by Michael Wandmacher]]
[[Category:Films set in Florida]]
[[Category:Films shot in Florida]]
[[Category:2003 musical films]]