Fanboys

RECOMMENDED - for Fanboys and Fangirls (but then, who else would go see it?)

In a word: Geeky

Plot:  It's 1998, and Star Wars, Episode 1: The Phantom Menace is six months from its world premiere.  Five friends (Linus, Hutch, Windows, Eric and token girl Zoe), who have drifted apart since high school, band together to fulfill a dream they have had since elementary school - to break into Skywalker Ranch of the film before its release.  This dream is especially important to Linus, who has cancer and may not make it to the opening of the movie.  This film is full of Star Wars (and Star Trek) references - so if you're not a fan it will fall flat for you.  It's also full of cameos which will make Fanboys/girls squeal with glee.

Thoughts:  Okay, I'm the first to admit that I am a HUGE geek - so I liked this film.  It's starts off a little slow - giving you more time than is needed to get to know the characters (anyone who watches this film is a geek, we already KNOW these people). Once the boys get on the road - the story is a blast.  Highlights include a side trip to Ohio (birthplace of Captain Kirk) to harrass some Trekkies and a secret meeting in Las Vegas with "scruffy nerfherder" - who gives them inside information on Skywalker Ranch (plus something to read along the way).  I am rather glad that Zoe (the token geek chick) is portrayed as both smart and cute - something that us geek girls are rarely portrayed as.

SPOILERS:  I have to admit, I thought the side plot of Linus' cancer was a ruse.  I kept expecting Hutch and Windows to yell "gotcha"!  Once I realized he actually was going to die before the premiere, I almost groaned because of the melodrama involved.  Then I thought - what would I do if I wasn't going to make it to the last Harry Potter book release, or the release of the new Star Trek movie?  I'd probably go on a road trip myself and try and steal advance copies.   The cancer seems tacked on, but on second thought it also seemed necessary.  Without it, they are just breaking and entering.

I was very disappoiinted with  Phantom Menace, by the way (and it gets worse each time I watch it), so it was nice that the film ends with "Guys, what if the film sucks?"