ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 30, 1996 TAG: 9612030060
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 9 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: MOVIE REVIEW
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
"Swingers" is the most cheerfully incorrect movie to come along in years.
The low-budget ensemble comedy celebrates the fleeting pleasures of youth: drinking whiskey in places where the music is too loud, flirting, smoking, eating breakfast in diners at 2 in the morning. But it doesn't ignore the realities behind those activities: the insecurity, the foolishness, the lies, the casual cruelty.
Writer/co-producer/star Jon Favreau has admitted that his script is largely autobiographical. He plays Mike, a comedian-actor who breaks up with his longtime girlfriend in New York and moves to Los Angeles. Six months later, he's still thinking about her. His pal Trent (Vince Vaughn) tries to pull Mike out of his funk, but Mike is drawn obsessively back to his answering machine to see if his lost love has left a message.
A trip to Las Vegas, parties with fashion models, even video games fail to cheer Mike up. Trent brings in other pals - Rob (Ron Livingston), Sue (Patrick Van Horn) and Charles (Alex Desert). They talk, as young men will, about the important things in life: the relative greatness of "Mean Streets," "Reservoir Dogs" and "Goodfellas"; their various floundering careers; and, of course, women.
Their problems with women are the source of most of their ideas and frustrations. Favreau gives these guys some wonderful, revealing scenes. Trent's speech about bears and bunnies, and Mike's extended telephone soliloquy are the two best moments. They're reminiscent in the best way of the young, funny Woody Allen.
Director/photographer Doug Liman matches Favreau's verbal humor with some sophisticated visual comedy despite an obviously limited budget. More importantly, he and Favreau trust the characters to hold audiences' attention. And even in their nuttiest, most swinish moments, these guys are believable and interesting.
In recent years, many young actors have worked together to create independent, offbeat romantic comedies revolving around groups of guys - "The Brothers McMullen," "Don't Do It," "Tree's Lounge," the upcoming "Pompatus of Love." In terms of technical polish these films may not equal their studio-produced counterparts, but for genuine emotion, relevance and originality, they're immeasurably better.
"Swingers" is one of the best of a very good lot.
Swingers ***
A Miramax release playing at the Grandin Theater. 96 min. Rated R for subject matter, strong language.
LENGTH: Medium: 52 linesby CNB