Fanboys Movie Review

Kristen Bell as Princess Lea

Most people, I think, have some sort of unhealthy habit. Whether they admit it or not, everyone has some trait, activity or habit that they take to the extreme. Now, I doubt very much that most people can relate to the love of Star Wars that the characters in our film have. But, everyone has an obsession, don’t they? Some people are clean freaks, some people love dogs, and, well, some people love a series of movies about space drama.
Our film is Fanboys, an adventurous tale about a group of friends who decide that their chance at the Holy Grail is at hand. Instead of a treasured chalice, four nerdy guys (and their amazingly cute gal-pal, played by Kristen Bell) decide that they need to break into George Lucas’s home and watch the new Star Wars movie before anyone else. The boys decide to do this because one of them, Linus, has terminal cancer. This trip is, really, their gift to him – even though they realize it’s likely impossible (and would end with felony charges). And, to quote Han Solo, that’s the real trick, isn’t it? This, in fact, was a source of controversy in production – the film changed directors, the script dropped the cancer bit, then picked it up at the protest of fans, and so on. Was a cancer subplot really going to dramatically change the historical cinematic impact this film would have? No, but then, I can’t say I was a fanboy for Fanboys.

Now, anyway, with the film, our gang goes off on a series of adventures, with jail time, internet dating, rumbles with trekkies, and hookers galore. And there are cameos by Star Wars actors, and non-Star Wars actors (including Seth Rogen in two roles). And there are tons of gags, Star Wars-related and not. And I laughed. I did. But the film, graded against other films, was quite poor. It is. I’d honestly have to rank it alongside Project: Alf. Honest. I have to put it in the same category as a TV film that was built on pure nostalgia. That’s what this film is.

Now, to me, the film was certainly fun. I’m a Star Wars fan, and this film was made for people like me. I hate Star Trek, and I love Han Solo. I am this film’s target audience. I caught each quote from the Wars movies, noticed all the sounds (Chewbacca’s growl and R2-D2’s whine), and loved that “Hutch” had to pound his van’s ceiling to get it to start, just like the Millennium Falcon.

If you count yourself among casual Star Wars fans, then, well, you’re in sort of a gray area. But it’s more than likely that this film is going to annoy you. Just giving you fair warning. But it is exactly as it appears on the surface: a horny teen comedy with Star Wars references galore. But… in case you were hoping for some sort of money shot, you don’t get one.

Unless, that is, you count Kristen Bell in a slave girl costume.