Swingers (1996)

Wannabe actors become regulars in the stylish neo-lounge scene; Trent teaches his friend Mike the unwritten rules of the scene.

Director:

Doug Liman

Writer:

Jon Favreau

Stars:

Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, Ron Livingston

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jon Favreau	...	Mike
Vince Vaughn	...	Trent
Ron Livingston	...	Rob
Patrick Van Horn	...	Sue
Alex Désert	...	Charles (as Alex Desert)
Heather Graham	...	Lorraine
Deena Martin	...	Christy
Katherine Kendall	...	Lisa
Brooke Langton	...	Nikki
Blake Lindsley	...	Girl with Cigar
Kevin James Kelly	...	Vegas Dealer
Stephanie Ittleson	...	Vegas Waitress
Vernon Vaughn	...	$100 Gambler
Joan Favreau	...	$5 Winner
Rio Hackford	...	Skully

Storyline

This is a story about Mike, a guy who left his girl in New York when he came to LA to be a star. It's been six months since his girlfriend left him and he's not doing so good. So, his pal and some other friends try and get him back in the social scene and forget about his 6 year relationship.

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Plot Keywords:

friend | actor | reference to quentin tarantino | tears | photograph | 

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Taglines:

You're money and you don't even know it!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language throughout

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 April 1997 (Brazil)

Also Known As:

Adiorthotoi gletzedes

Filming Locations:

5874 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$74,118 (USA) (18 October 1996)

Gross:

$4,505,922 (USA) (31 January 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Independent Pictures (II), The Alfred Shay Company Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The band in the film are retro swing jazz band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

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Goofs

When Mike escorts Lorraine to her car, he points to a Harley Davidson motorcycle behind him. As she drives away, it's gone.

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Quotes

Sue: Pause the game.
Trent: Wait I'm gonna do my thing with the thing.

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Crazy Credits

Instead of scrolling up, the credits at the end of the film flash on and off of the screen.

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Connections

Referenced in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Couples Retreat/Bronson/An Education (2009)

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Soundtracks

"Go Daddy-O"
Performed by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Written by Scott Morris (as Scotty Morris)

User Reviews

I wanted to call all of my friends after I first saw this film!

I chanced upon Swigers one evening after reading an article on writer/star Jon Favreau, and trying to figure out which character he played in Friends (it's Pete Becker by the way); don't you love it when you uncover a gem. From the opening credits, set to Dean Martin crooning "You're Nobody Until Somebody Loves You", I knew that this film was the very personification of cool, spawning one of the coolest characters in any film...ever, that being Trent Walker played by Vince Vaughn, with a swinging soundtrack and a real sense of fun which you don't often get in mainstream Hollywood; and this film is effortless in a way which Tarantino could only dream about.

The story centres around Favreau's loser-in-love Mikey, trying to make a living as an actor in L.A after leaving his long-term girlfriend behind in New York. His best buddy, Trent, tries incessantly to get Mikey back 'into the game' so to speak; cue a trawl around L.A's hippest night-spots, some hilarious insight into dating rituals (when is it cool to call? 2 days?), and a trip to Las Vegas in which Trent tries to 'pull a Fredo' (bedding cocktail waitresses two at a time). The central duo are ably supported by a cast of lovable rogues, all intent on getting laid.

Doug Liman directs in a laid-back manner, befitting of the film, and Favreau's script (based on Vaughn and himself) is full of witty insights and in-jokes, as well as enough movie references to keep everyone happy.

Although the characters are almost impossibly cool, they never appear obnoxious due to the over-riding sense that they are just a bunch of lovable losers trying to con their way into the beds of L.A's female population; sometimes succeeding, sometimes not, and there is a certain sweetness added by Favreau's predicament. The pay-off is cool, Favreau finally 'getting digits' and we are left with a role-reversal between the two main protagonists as Trent makes a fool of himself with a woman in the closing scene.

Altogether a classy, breezy, often hilarious film, a certain cult classic, and a fine addition to the date movie genre.