Posted: 02/22/2002

Slackers

(2002)

by John Flores

The only “A” for this film is preceded by “T&”

Well, there’s not too much to say here. When previews started hitting the airwaves, I wasn’t exactly expecting a great movie. The presence of Jason Shwartzman, though, hinted at some hidden quality in a film that otherwise looked as if it reeked of the typical Hollywood teenage movie, with dialogue any twelve year-old would get with ease. I bought my ticket and sat down in my seat waiting to be proven wrong.

I wasn’t wrong.

The movie’s cast, aside from Shwartzman, consists of Devon Sawa, Jason Segal, Michael C. Maronna and the incredibly sultry (and female) James King. The movie started off decent, I was amused and was starting to nestle in for some enjoyment. Then the movie just never progressed. Here’s the gist: Shwartzman blackmails Sawa, Segal and Maronna to hook him up with the school’s hottie, rightfully portrayed by King. That’s all that has to be said to understand the movie.

Shwartzman, the man I figured to carry this cast of would-bes, becomes engulfed in a terrible role himself. His character in Rushmore would be shamefaced if he saw what kind of outcast he’s become now. He’s no longer the sharp-witted, spiteful underachiever anymore. He’s become a creepy, bitter, slouching under the weight of his own backpack loser!

The movie is weighed down by not just its performances but by the relentless use of masturbation jokes and other seventh-grade humor. I’d like to think that by college we’ve all come a little further. I have nothing against movies with T&A, just market them as such and don’t pull actors with potential down with them. If you have a cousin with severe ADD or are in the mood to not activate any brain cells, why don’t you check this one out? I’m gonna call the cinema and see if they can refund at least a third of my money — I figure I did enjoy the T&A.

John Flores is a writer and film student at Columbia College in Chicago.

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