RSS
Home
DVD review: Fanboys
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Fanboys isn't just the title of a great little film; it's the title given to the audience of geeks, nerds, and dorks it was made for, and I'm not ashamed to say I count myself as one of them. After years of languishing in production hell and a warm reception at the 2008 San Diego Comicon, Fanboys was finally given a limited release in February of this year. A victim of poor marketing and scarred by the many creative hands that have altered it, Fanboys did not flourish on the big screen, but is sure to find a solid following on DVD.
Fanboys is the story of 4 friends on a mission they've planned since childhood: break into the Skywalker Ranch and steal an early copy of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. It's the basic road movie formula, with a little twist. The story itself is bittersweet: Eric has gone on to be a "grown up" and work at his dad's car lot, leaving his friends Linus, Windows, and Hutch feeling abandoned. He meets up with them again to discover that Linus is dying of cancer, so he suggests that they go on a road trip and break into the Skywalker Ranch to steal the movie for Linus. As road movies go, this isn't the same formulaic schlock as, say, Sex Drive. It's definitely not predictable, and while some of the crass humor is definitely there, it's a sweet movie.
.jpg)
The friends are faced with hilarious obstacles and cameos along the way, including Seth Rogen in two roles as a Trekkie and a pimp, William Shatner as himself, Ethan Suplee portraying the great Harry Knowles of Ain't it Cool News, Danny McBride as the gatekeeper to the home of George Lucas, and many more. Kristen Bell plays Zoe, the token girl of the group who worms her way into the trip after bailing the boys out of jail. In a later scene, Ms. Bell dons a Slave Princess Leia outfit, fulfilling every fanboy fantasy ever. The film totes a wonderful cast all around, utilizing some of the best young Hollywood has to offer. Forget about the cast of High School Musical - after some predictable Kate Hudson romantic comedies and leaked sex tapes, those guys won't have a career in 2 years anyway. These are the kids we should be watching - Sam Huntington, Chris Marquette, Kristen Bell, Jay Baruchel, and Dan Fogler.
But this isn't just a comedy with a great cast - it's more of a love story, about 4 friends and their love for Star Wars. Not everyone will get the jokes and the references, but if you count yourself as a massive fan of anything, you'll relate to these characters and their epic quest for what they believe to be the holy grail. It's about serious fandom, and the love you feel for that thing you've dedicated your life to, consequences and opposition be damned, and how that love bubbles over into every other aspect of your life. From the clothes they wear to the jokes they make, everything is influenced by what they love. That's a true fan.
You don't have to be a Star Wars fan to see the movie - just be a fan of anything, and you'll understand their passion. This movie is a loveletter to all things fan. Fanboys has its definite audience, no doubt, and some may not get all of the jokes or nods, but aside from all of that, there's a sweet story here about friendship and a love that brings them all together.
Fanboys (2008)
Rated: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Formats: DVD, Blu-ray
Running time: 90 minutes
Starring: Sam Huntington, Chris Marquette, Jay Baruchel, Dan Fogler, Kristen Bell
Written by: Ernest Cline & Adam F. Goldberg (screenplay), Ernest Cline & Dan Pulick (story)
Directed by: Kyle Newman
You can rent this at Netflix, or buy it at Amazon.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
.jpg)
