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Fanboys (2007)
Score: 7/10
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There are people a certain age for whom Star Wars was the Best Movie Ever, they saw it in the theatre (many times), bought the toys, lined up for the sequels and tested each other's knowledge of trivial minutae. I know several such fans. When George Lucas finally announced that the long-awatied prequels would be released, beginning with Episode 1, the fans got very excited.
Set in Ohio in 1998, Fanboys follows four of these fans who decide that they actually can't wait six months to see the movie when it comes out. Instead, they plan to break into Skywalker Ranch and steal a copy. Basically, it's a geek roadtrip film that lands somewhere between Free Enterprise and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (and in fact there are cameos that tie this film to both of those titles).
It was marketed as a Seth Rogen/Kirsten Bell vehicle but neither one is the star. The central ensemble is a foursome who look familiar enough that you know the producers had a budget, but not familiar enough to easily place them. Sam Huntington plays Eric, the "responsible" one who works at his family's car dealership. You might recognize him from Superman Returns (where he played Jimmy Olsen) or from earlier roles in Not Another Teen Movie or Detroit Rock City. Chris Marquette is Linus who for some reason is no longer on friendly terms with Eric even though they were childhood friends. Marquette has the most impressive resume of the four leads having had roles on several television shows including the full run of Joan of Arcadia. Jay Baruchel, who plays uber-geeky "Windows" is one of those actors you know you've seen but could never name (he was in both Knocked Up and Tropic Thunder). Rounding out the four is Dan Fogler (10 years ago the role would have gone to Jack Black) as "Hutch" whose running joke is that he has only one testicle -- I have no idea why that is supposed to be funny.
Luckily, some of the other jokes actually do work and I found that I was smiling through most of it (even some cringe-worthy cracks) and I expect I will be quoting a few lines in weeks to come. The bottom line is that his movie is for the fans -- it is not for everybody. It is full of geeky humour and inside jokes and amusing cameos and plenty of geek stereotypes. If you can name Chewbacca's home planet (or you are close to someone who can) then this is your movie. Go, watch, enjoy. However, if you couldn't tell a Klingon from a Wookie in a lineup, you'd best move along: this is not the film you're looking for. |
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- cheryld (other reviews by cheryld)
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