Studio executives at Fox didn't allow critics an advanced screening of "From Justin to Kelly," the musical comedy starring the contestants of the first "American Idol" competition.

This is usually bad news, meaning that they're nervous the movie will get trashed before it is even released. As a result, many questions lingered in my mind before seeing this movie. Mainly: "Does this movie have a chance?" And more important, "Does the title refer to an STD?"

Thankfully, all of my fears were unfounded. Much to my surprise, "From Justin to Kelly" is a harmless adventure in silliness.

There's something about musicals that just makes me happy. They're not like real life, because nowhere in real life do people stop in the middle of everything and break out in a well-choreographed song-and-dance number.

That may be what's wrong with the world today. If people just stopped in the middle of stressful situations - in line at the grocery store or hostage situations - and broke out in song, the world would be a better place.

The world in which former "American Idol" contestants Justin (Guarini) and Kelly (Clarkson) live is just this kind of place. Kelly works as a waitress in a Texas bar. Her friends, Kaya (Anika Noni Rose) and Alexa (Katherine Bailess), realize they have no means of transportation on their way to spring break, so they need Kelly to come along to Florida because she has a car.

Justin, on the other hand, is already in Florida because he and his friends/business partners, Brandon (Greg Siff) and Eddie (Brian Dietzen), are there to promote parties.

The two "Idols" meet on the beach on the first day during one of the previously mentioned scenarios in which an entire group of people sings the same song and dances to the same choreographed dance. During the song, Justin and Kelly lay eyes on each other, and a crush is born.

From there, Justin and Kelly search for each other around Miami. Justin finally tracks down Kelly's friend, Alexa, who decides that she has a crush on Justin, too, and begins a series of rather mean-spirited pranks to keep Justin and Kelly apart.

In the end, though, the two get together. I don't think I'm giving too much away, considering the movie is called "From Justin to Kelly."

Considering this is Justin and Kelly's first acting experience, both do rather well. Clarkson needs to get a few acting classes under her belt to be effective. Guarini, on the other hand, looks right at home on screen. He's a scene-stealing presence every time he appears.

The alternate story lines of the movie, involving Justin and Kelly's friends, wear thin quite quickly and really drag the movie down. We don't really care about their friends' quest for love in Miami; we only care if Justin and Kelly get together.

The movie's songs are the usual bubble-gum pop songs one would expect from a movie like this, but Justin and Kelly pull them off quite well, as both are rather talented singers.

All in all, "From Justin to Kelly" is no "Grease" or "Chicago." But it would be unfair to hold this mindless summer popcorn movie up to films of that caliber.