'I Love You, Beth Cooper' (PG) (out of four)

Director Chris Columbus has tackled some complex, challenging movies during his career: "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Home Alone," and the first two "Harry Potter" films. It’s been four years since he directed his last film (the 2005 musical "Rent') and it’s a bit of surprise to see him mark his return with this lower budget comedy about teenagers where the title character is the beautiful and charismatic Hayden Panettiere -- one of the cast members of the television drama "Heroes."

In "I Love You, Beth Cooper," Denis Cooverman (Paul Rust from "Semi-Pro") is the geeky valedictorian of his high school class. For six years he's been secretly in love with beautiful cheerleader Beth Cooper. During his graduation speech, the young man decides to announce to Beth -- and everyone else -- his feelings. And as long as he’s being honest, he decides to set the record straight on a few other things -- how Beth's easy-to-anger ROTC boyfriend is a jerk, how another girl is a stuck-up B, and how his own best friend, Rich (Jack T. Carpenter, "Sydney White"), really should admit to himself that he's gay.

The result from this bold gambit: The object of his affection is kind of ... impressed. She even accepts an invitation to come to a post-graduation "party" at his house, bringing along her posse of girlfriends -- the very blunt Cammy (Lauren London from "90210") and the morally-casual Treece (Lauren Storm of "The Game Plan").

The geeks are in way over their heads, enticing the girls to come in with such lines as, "Now entering the party-pod, Captain." Of course, everything starts going wrong, capped off with the ROTC boyfriend crashing the party for a little revenge (His imposing Hummer announces its arrival by blaring "Ride of the Valkyries" on the sound system).

The five wind up together in the cheerleader’s car, and during the rest of the day and night, they experience a series of adventures that, as expected, will change their outlooks on life (sounds like "American Graffiti"?).

The whole premise of the nerd hanging out with the popular kid has been done many times before, and it can work ("Never Been Kissed").

Certainly "I Love You, Beth Cooper" has its moments. Rust does a satisfactory job as the geek hero, although his lines at times sound too written. (The script is by Larry Doyle, who also wrote the novel. His screenwriting credits include episodes of "The Simpsons" and "Beavis and Butthead.")

The early progression of Panettiere's character is a bit awkward, as early on, she sheds her graduation gown to reveal an outfit designed by "Hookers R'Us." But by the time her character returns to the high school for one bittersweet, final, late-night cheerleading session, she’s starting to show some depth.

Storm has some great lines as the ditzy, easy-to-bed friend who is oblivious to much of what’s going on around her, and Carpenter manages to win over the audience as the movie line-quoting friend who refuses to accept the idea that he might be gay.

Despite some rough edges, director Columbus does deliver a film that manages ultimately to entertain. However, with its B-movie feel, "I Love You, Beth Cooper" would probably be a better catch on DVD.