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A
LOSER IN ITSELF...
Written
by Dean
Kish
Cast:
Jason Biggs (Paul Tennek), Mena Suvari (Dora Diamond),
Greg Kinnear (Edward Alcott), Thomas Sadoski (Chris),
Jimmi Simpson (Noah)
 Premise:
From the director of Clueless, a nerdy mid-Westerner
travels to New York City for school, where he develops
a crush on a girl. Problem is that the girl already
has a crush on her college professor.
Overall
Rating:
(out of 4)
Rated PG-13
Amy
Heckerling, writer/director of "Clueless"
and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", tells
another story through the eyes of teen. This time she
focuses on Paul Tannek, played by Jason Biggs of "American
Pie". Paul is leaving his small town roots and
moving to New York when he gets a scholarship. When
Paul really doesn’t fit in and is branded a "loser",
he is forced to live off campus. While struggling with
his off campus life and trying to maintain his GPA for
his scholarship, Paul falls for a gothic chick named
Dora (Mena Suvari also from "American Pie").
But Paul’s luck just seems to get worse when Dora
is madly in love with their English professor (Greg
Kinnear).
"Loser"
is like a lot of other teen romantic comedies that have
arrived in the last couple months. You know, the ones
where the film has the same premise and very little
laughs? Take "Boys and Girls" starring Freddie
Prinze Jr, for example. "Loser" has a smart
cast and like a lot of Heckerling films, a great soundtrack.
But I fear the subject matter here just isn’t funny.
I
really believe that this film should have traveled down
the "screw-ball" comedy lane and developed
a lot more pranks, revenge strategies and romantic tension.
This routine worked for a lot of college screwball classics
including "Revenge of the Nerds" and "Up
the Creek". These films developed their "losers"
as victims of their environment and we really wanted
to see them survive. What Heckerling does with "Loser"
is brings us a sweet melancholy that makes us choke.
The film is way to tender to even arrive at any of the
laughs. Sure, I felt sorry for Dora and Paul but I was
never near the cheering stage in which I would want
them to survive.
If
I had to pick a favorite member of the cast it would
be Greg Kinnear who once more shines in a dreary comedy.
Anyone remember "Dear God"? In this film,
Kinnear is a great jerks who loves to ravish college
coeds. Within Kinnear’s portrayal you can see the
little boy forced into being a man. He is immature and
quite the jerk. It’s definitely a great performance.
Don’t
blame the cast in this movie, though. Blame the writing.
It's a "Loser" in itself.
(2
of 5) So Says the Soothsayer.
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(C)
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