Slackers (2002)

When geek Ethan discovers three fellow students scamming the exam system, he blackmails them to win over the college's most popular girl.

Director:

Dewey Nicks

Writer:

David H. Steinberg

Stars:

Devon Sawa, Jason Segel, Michael C. Maronna

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Devon Sawa	...	Dave Goodman
Jason Segel	...	Sam Schechter
Michael C. Maronna	...	Jeff Davis (as Michael Maronna)
Jason Schwartzman	...	Ethan Dulles
Jaime King	...	Angela Patton (as James King)
Laura Prepon	...	Reanna
Travis Davis	...	Airborne Express Driver
Jim Rash	...	Head T.A. Philip
Nat Faxon	...	Karl, the Grad Student
Don Michaelson	...	Professor Markoe
Retta	...	Bruna, the Office Manager
Marilyn Staley	...	Singing Waitress
Jason Garner	...	Singing Waiter
Gedde Watanabe	...	Japanese Proctor
Heidi Kramer	...	Hot Twin #1

Storyline

Dave, Sam and Jeff are about to graduate from Holden University with Honors in lying, cheating and scheming. The three roommates have proudly scammed their way through the last four years of college and now, during the final exams, these big-men-on-campus are about to be busted by the most unlikely dude in school.

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Plot Keywords:

fall | love | blackmail | scam | college life | 

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Taglines:

Higher Education Just Hit A New Low

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language and sexual content, and for brief drug use

Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 February 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hooking Up Ethan

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£152,078 (UK) (10 May 2002)

Gross:

£294,776 (UK) (17 May 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alliance Atlantis Communications, Destination Films, Original Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The song "Hey Now Girl" by Jason Schwartzman's band Phantom Planet appears in some versions of the trailer for the film.

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Goofs

In the scene where the guys are getting Carl to fill out the Physics test, they pass him a joint, but it the next shot Sam is holding it and in the shot after Carl is passing it back to Sam.

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Quotes

Mrs. Van Graaf: [after exposing her large breasts to get a sponge bath] Kiss my nipple, honey.

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Crazy Credits

Outtake footage featuring Jason Schwartzman and Cameron Diaz is shown after the end credits. She looks at the camera and says, "I've never done a porno before". He responds, "Until now, bitch!".

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Connections

References Schoolhouse Rock! (1973)

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Soundtracks

"Spongebath"
Written by Justin Stanley
Performed by Justin Stanley
Courtesy Sound Hustlers

User Reviews

Title is an apt name for the filmmakers...

A standard premise: a geeky college student blackmails a few cheaters into ingratiating him upon the girl for whom he has the hots. What he doesn't figure is that the scheme will backfire.

Formulaic, sophomoric comedy with a few sporadic chuckles, takes an odd turn at the climax which leaves the viewer confused as to whom exactly the main character was in the story. I won't reveal more than that, for I'll leave that to the moviegoers.

*1/2 out of ****