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James Franco Film 'Palo Alto' Hitting Bay Area Theaters

PALO ALTO (CBS SF) -- James Franco's new film 'Palo Alto' hits Bay Area theaters next week.

The movie features high school kids partying, having sex, and generally behaving badly in Palo Alto, where Franco had his own share of wild times growing up.

"You know, he was a risk taker. He got himself in a lot of trouble. It wasn't fun to watch. It was actually hard to watch," said Franco's mother Betsy.

Franco is a graduate of Palo Alto High School, and says the stories and the film are based on his experiences here.

But, Palo Alto students don't consider the film a documentary on life in their city.

"I think Palo Alto is a much more normal place than he makes it out to be in the movie, or at least from the trailer and what I know about it," Emma Abed, a Palo Alto High School senior said.

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