When I watched this movie, I wasn't quite sure what to think. It is certainly reminiscent of Better Off Dead, with many of the same cast members, similar animation scenes, and the same writer and director. I adored the animated sequences (especially the one in the very beginning!) and Cusack's performances throughout the movie, but on a whole, I feel that Better Off Dead is probably the better film. One Crazy Summer's plot is sort of all over the place. It doesn't seem like the romance is built up as much as it should have been. My least favorite part of the movie, I think, is the inclusion of the Stork Brothers. While to some people they might be considered humorous, I thought they were a horrible parody of people who are mildly retarded. Perhaps that wasn't the intent, but it definitely came off that way to my companions and myself.
In conclusion, I'd recommend this movie to big Cusack fans, but I'd also recommend keeping a remote in hand to fast forward through much of the movie.