Fanatical culture deserves not one low-budget indie, but many low-budget indies, whether they be comedies, documentaries, dramas, etc. I've long stated in reviews and in essays that cult behavior and fanaticism is something I wish I could be a part of rather than be on the outside. As hard as I try, I can't find the pleasure in watching Lord of the Rings and Star Wars enough times to debate the deeper meaning of the lengthy trip, or if Luke Skywalker actually liked kissing Princess Leia. It's not in my blood.
It's certainly in the blood of the four main characters of Kyle Newman's Fanboys, a predictable but jolly comedy about the four traveling across the country in order to obtain the print of Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace from Skywalker Ranch. The trip is commenced because the gang's best pal is being eaten alive by cancer and his last wish, if he were to make one, would be to watch The Phantom Menace. The fact that the film is six months away from premiering doesn't stop them.
The gang is pretty faceless and are predominately vessels that talk in witticisms, movie quotes, and insults. They are nice-guy Eric (Sam Huntington), "Windows" (Jay Baruchel), nicknamed for his large glasses, the chubby ball-of-fun Hutch (Dan Folger), and Linus (Chris Marquette), the unfortunate, cancer-stricken soul. They also have a galpal named Zoe (Kristen Bell), who could likely take all of these geeks on at once. She even shows her brawn in one scene of the film, proving her dominance in a league of ordinary gentleman.
This is the kind of comedy I find myself smiling at more than laughing at. Its attitude is comfortable and lax, its material is pretty basic but often quite favorable, and its approach to fandom and oppressive fanatical behavior is equal parts loose satire and appreciation. It's not hard to tell Newman and writers Ernest Cline and Adam F. Goldberg are Star Wars superfans themselves. The only drawback is that the humor is largely foreseeable, and even the film reference-humor becomes a bit of a muchness.
Nonetheless, this is serviceable fare, likely to excite many Star Wars fans who recall the days of camping out in front of the multiplex to witness the new trilogy, or the lucky ones who saw the originals on the silver-screen. I can't speak for non-enthusiasts of the films; they might enjoy it on a more basic level, but the question simply is without a discernible answers. Just like the question, why did Kevin Spacey choose to donate money to the project?
Starring: Sam Huntington, Dan Folger, Jay Baruchel, Chris Marquette, Kristen Bell, Seth Rogen, Danny Trejo, Ethan Suplee, William Shatner, Jason Mewes, and Kevin Smith. Directed by: Kyle Newman.
It's certainly in the blood of the four main characters of Kyle Newman's Fanboys, a predictable but jolly comedy about the four traveling across the country in order to obtain the print of Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace from Skywalker Ranch. The trip is commenced because the gang's best pal is being eaten alive by cancer and his last wish, if he were to make one, would be to watch The Phantom Menace. The fact that the film is six months away from premiering doesn't stop them.
The gang is pretty faceless and are predominately vessels that talk in witticisms, movie quotes, and insults. They are nice-guy Eric (Sam Huntington), "Windows" (Jay Baruchel), nicknamed for his large glasses, the chubby ball-of-fun Hutch (Dan Folger), and Linus (Chris Marquette), the unfortunate, cancer-stricken soul. They also have a galpal named Zoe (Kristen Bell), who could likely take all of these geeks on at once. She even shows her brawn in one scene of the film, proving her dominance in a league of ordinary gentleman.
This is the kind of comedy I find myself smiling at more than laughing at. Its attitude is comfortable and lax, its material is pretty basic but often quite favorable, and its approach to fandom and oppressive fanatical behavior is equal parts loose satire and appreciation. It's not hard to tell Newman and writers Ernest Cline and Adam F. Goldberg are Star Wars superfans themselves. The only drawback is that the humor is largely foreseeable, and even the film reference-humor becomes a bit of a muchness.
Nonetheless, this is serviceable fare, likely to excite many Star Wars fans who recall the days of camping out in front of the multiplex to witness the new trilogy, or the lucky ones who saw the originals on the silver-screen. I can't speak for non-enthusiasts of the films; they might enjoy it on a more basic level, but the question simply is without a discernible answers. Just like the question, why did Kevin Spacey choose to donate money to the project?
Starring: Sam Huntington, Dan Folger, Jay Baruchel, Chris Marquette, Kristen Bell, Seth Rogen, Danny Trejo, Ethan Suplee, William Shatner, Jason Mewes, and Kevin Smith. Directed by: Kyle Newman.