If you’re looking for some lighthearted fun, you’ve just found it. Fanboys is an entertaining comedy not just for fans of science fiction and movies like Star Wars but something everybody can enjoy. Sure, if you’re a fan, you’re going to get all the references but still, this can be an enjoyable experience. Who knows, you might even learn something new.
As a diehard Trekkie, I immediately must compare Fanboys to Galaxy Quest, a much better movie poking fun at the Star Trek universe. And you already know where I stand. Now, this might not be a fair comparison as this is a much smaller and more casual movie but still. There are far too many cliches here to consider Fanboys as a love letter to the concept. Perhaps they were trying too hard to be mainstream with a subject that’s definitely not mainstream. Although it’s certainly becoming one.
What’s definitely mainstream is the road trip aspect of Fanboys. You can count on the usual stuff like strippers, drugs, biker bars, and friendships that are going to be tested. Some of these scenes do feel off but at least their heart was in a right place. Especially for a PG-13 movie. I wonder what would happen if they went full-on R-rating and made a raunchier movie.
It is the year of our lord Jabba The Hut 1998 and a new era is about to begin. The premiere for the latest Star Wars movie Episode I: The Phantom Menace is just months away and everybody is anxious to see it. Especially four childhood friends who also happen to be huge Star Wars fans. They decide to do something outrageous to get their hands on a copy of this movie before everybody else. They decide to drive across the country and break into Skywalker Ranch.
The cast of Fanboys is likable and they were indeed imbued with the spirit of the fandom. I especially liked Dan Fogler’s performance which made me wonder why isn’t he in bigger movies. Additionally, we will get an opportunity to see most of the cast of Star Wars plus some rather big cameos. So, if you didn’t like the last scene, you’re always looking forward to the next one as you don’t know who’s gonna show up next.
Finally, if you’re looking for movies like Fanboys, apart from the above-mentioned Galaxy Quest, I do recommend you check out Paul. Starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, it follows two UFO enthusiasts who happen to stumble upon an alien while driving around Nevada in their van.
Director: Kyle Newman
Writers: Ernest Cline, Adam F. Goldberg, Dan Pulick
Cast: Sam Huntington, Chris Marquette, Dan Fogler, Jay Baruchel, Kristen Bell
Fun Stuff: A lot of the movie was reshot about six months after the production. Harvey Weinstein felt that Kyle Newman’s original movie version didn’t connect with the younger audiences.
Rating:
IMDb Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489049/
