Chuck & Buck (2000)

An oddly naive man-child stalks his childhood best friend and tries to reconnect with their past.

Director:

Miguel Arteta

Writer:

Mike White

Stars:

Mike White, Chris Weitz, Lupe Ontiveros

7 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mike White	...	Buck O'Brien
Chris Weitz	...	Charlie 'Chuck' Sitter
Lupe Ontiveros	...	Beverly Franco
Beth Colt	...	Carlyn Carlson
Paul Weitz	...	Sam
Maya Rudolph	...	Jamilla
Mary Wigmore	...	Diane
Paul Sand	...	Barry
Gino Buccola	...	Tommy
Annette Murphy	...	Tommy's Mom
Glory Simon	...	Witch
Douglas Kieffer	...	Mark
Jonathan Brown	...	Jake
Ruthie Bram	...	Dorothy
Giovanni Gieco	...	Scarecrow

Storyline

Buck is a man-child who has lived his existence in a life of Romper Room, kindergarten collages, and lollipops. When his mother dies suddenly, Buck remembers his old childhood friend Chuck, with whom he feels a need to reconnect after having invited him to his mother's funeral. Buck treks out to Los Angeles where Chuck, an up-and-coming music record executive, is living his life. Buck ends up developing an obsession with Chuck and begins stalking him.

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Plot Keywords:

friend | best friend | funeral | man child | wedding | 

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Taglines:

When does a close friend become too close?

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 November 2000 (UK)

Also Known As:

Chuck és Buck

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$250,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$72,831 (USA) (14 July 2000)

Gross:

$1,050,600 (USA) (29 September 2000)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Artisan Entertainment, Blow Up Pictures, Flan de Coco Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Chuck turns to the TV in his office and claims to have signed the band whose video is playing, the TV is showing They Might be Giants playing their song "Dr. Worm".

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Goofs

The secretary says Chuck's office is on the sixth floor, but when Buck goes up to meet him he is on the third floor (look at the elevator doors when Buck changes his mind and leaves).

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Quotes

Jolie: What do you do in L.A., Buck?
Buck O'Brien: Um, nothing.
Jolie: I know a lot of people who have that job. It's one of the better jobs you can have. I bet you're very good at it.

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Connections

Featured in Indie Sex: Taboos (2001)

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Soundtracks

"Paul's Dance"
Written by Simon Jeffes & Steve Nye
Performed by Penguin Café Orchestra
Courtesy of Virgin EG Records Ltd./Virgin Records America, Inc.
© Editions Penguin Café Ltd.

User Reviews

fascinating movie that avoids predictability

The notable thing about Chuck & Buck is not just that it's a clever, well made movie with a fascinatingly odd central character, but that it doesn't go where you expect it to. At first Chuck & Buck seems like a more serious take on The Cable Guy, another weird movie about a strange stalker. Buck is a truly weird, disturbing guy, an adult seemingly incapable of leaving his childhood behind and unable to understand the world around him.

But the relationship between the principals is more nuanced than one is first lead to think and the movie refuses to make any of the obvious choices, moving it beyond fascinatingly weird to genuinely intelligent and thoughtful. Much of the movie's appeal is undeniably its weirdness, but the movie is far more than a one-trick pony.