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Slackers
2002
SLACKERS is a knee-slappng addition to the teen gross-out comedy genre. Directed by former fashion photographer Dewey Nicks and written by AMERICAN PIE 2 scribe David H. Steinberg, this raunchy and irreverent farce takes many of its cues from the original coed comedy ANIMAL HOUSE, and also clearly shows the raunchy influence of .. Read more
| Starring | Jason Schwartzman, Devon Sawa, Jason Segel, James King |
|---|---|
| Director | Dewey Nicks |
| Genres | Comedy |
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Slackers
SLACKERS is a knee-slappng addition to the teen gross-out comedy genre. Directed by former fashion photographer Dewey Nicks and written by AMERICAN PIE 2 scribe David H. Steinberg, this raunchy and irreverent farce takes many of its cues from the original coed comedy ANIMAL HOUSE, and also clearly shows the raunchy influence of THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY. Dave (Devon Sawa), Jeff (Michael C. Maronna), and Sam (Jason Segal) are seniors at Holden University who have conned and cheated their way through four years of college and are prepared to cheat on their final exam before graduation. However, a severely eccentric nerd who calls himself "Cool" Ethan (RUSHMORE's Jason Schwartzman in an eerily brash role) blackmails them, threatening to have them expelled unless they help him get the girl of his dreams. Of course, the smooth-talking slackers promptly agree to Ethan's demands, not realizing the severity of his obsession with Angela (James King), a brainy and beautiful classmate. What at first seems like an easy task for the amoral ladies' men quickly becomes more complicated as Dave falls for Angela himself. SLACKERS includes some outlandish performances from Laura Prepon as Angela's sex-obsessed roommate and a startling cameo from 1950s screen siren Mamie Van Doren, but the action is propelled by the freakishly funny Jason Schwartzman, whose band, Phantom Planet, provides the film's music.
| Starring | Jason Schwartzman, Devon Sawa, Jason Segel, James King, Mamie Van Doren, Michael C. Maronna, Laura Prepon |
|---|---|
| Director | Dewey Nicks |
| Studio | MOMENTUM PICTURES |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 27 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Comedy |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 18 Nov 2002 Production year: 2002 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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Although real belly laughs are a little thin on the ground, this agreeable campus comedy is given an injection of quirky humour by the brilliant Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore) who adds another eccentric nerd to his CV. He plays Cool Ethan (he's appended the “cool” himself), a creepy obsessive who uncovers evidence that three “slackers” — Devon Sawa, Michael Maronna and Jason Segel — have lied, cheated and manipulated their way through the education system. To stop him blowing the whistle, charmer Dave (Sawa) reluctantly agrees to set Ethan up with brainy beauty Angela (Jaime King), but that possibility is then undermined by Dave and Angela's blossoming attraction. This debut feature from ex-photographer and commercials director Dewey Nicks wants to have its American Pie and eat it, aiming to be both crudely offensive and sweetly soft-centred. As a result, Slackers doesn't carry out either task with total success, as Schwartzman's odious oddball is given less time in the spotlight than the predictable central romance. It's certainly worth watching though, not least for his close encounter with 1950s bombshell Mamie Van Doren.
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"...While Sawa has an unpolished, Everyboy-ish presence that makes him a likeable leading man in his own right, nothing can prevent the hilariously eccentric Schwartzman from running away with the show..."
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Most helpful member's review
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4 out of 5 people found this review helpful
What could have been
I was really looking forward to seeing this movie, as Jason Schwartzman is a fabulous actor capable of playing a myriad of roles at ease. However in 'Slackers' his talents are completely wasted. Instead of an honest & hilarious performance we get a forced & contrived one that barely scratches the surface of funny. And for this I blame Dewey Nicks.
Director Nicks starts the film off with a bang; the London philharmonic playing The Who's 'Baba O'Riley' over the opening sequence is gorgeous. Instantly thoughts of Wes Anderson pop to mind, the style and use of music are very similar - things are looking good. However, within minutes things go downhill at break neck speed.
The so called quirky characters are caricatures of characters from other movies, the depiciton of college life is a mish mash of everything from classics like 'Revenge of the Nerds' to more recent hits like 'Road Trip', even the script starts to fall apart mid way through the film. At it's best the entire movie is forumlaic & trite.
The only other glimmer of light in the movie is a fabulous Glee Club version of Ace Of Base's 'The Sign'. It's bad when the music is the best feature of your film.
Dewey Nicks; shame on you for tarnishing the fine legacy of Richard Linklaters 'Slacker'. Especially when there was so much potential there. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
funny film but it did not turn out to be as funny as I would have thought it could have been. But worth the night in.
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Slackers
SLACKERS is a knee-slappng addition to the teen gross-out comedy genre. Directed by former fashion photographer Dewey Nicks and written by AMERICAN PIE 2 scribe David H. Steinberg, this raunchy and irreverent farce takes many of its cues from the original coed comedy ANIMAL HOUSE, and also clearly ...
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