For a movie on a shoestring budget it looked good. The movie started off pretty well but it was just too long and ran out of steam. The last act with new character introductions were thinly written and juvenile. It just did not stick the landing. That said I thought the movie showed promise and the 1st half I would rate a 8 stars the last half 4 stars. This is not a good as some of the reviews suggest ( fans ) and certainly not as bad as some ( just angry ) reviewers suggest. Not for everyone but you can do much worse.
113 Reviews
A Rotund Attempt
voltronics773 January 2020
This movie was fun in parts, had better than the theatre student acting I've seen in many other B movies and had memorable scenes. Though I wasn't in love with the writing, it worked for the quirky characters who weren't part of the movie's A story. It wasn't quite the hidden gem I look for but I appreciate what was accomplished with what the movie makers had.
A good first effort...
garethathomas30 December 2019
Interesting and fun!
arbarry3 January 2020
The movie is shot beautifully, the acting is great, and the plot while not for everyone it's original and interesting. I did have problems with the Orin character which was the only bad part of the movie that has fun and interesting characters all over. Give it a shot, I don't think you will regret it.
"Groupers": Singularly Weird and Watchable
jtncsmistad5 October 2019
The new screwball crime dramedy "Groupers" started out taking us down one path paved with the ominous and the sinister. Then abruptly and without warning sh-- got kooky and kinky. Kinki-ER. And flat-out funny. Thundercloud dark funny, that is.
First time feature film Writer/Director Anderson Cowan has a definite agenda here. Bullying, particularly preying on homosexuals simply because they're homosexuals, is not right. And he is, of course, right. But Andy, did you have to be so relentlessly preachy in driving your point home? Evidently you did 'cuz this is what ya did. Though I gotta say the "fruit roll-up" reference was a stroke of wink-wink genius. Well played, rookie. Oh, and may I add that I really like the fitting choice of Bible verses you chose to bookend your flick, too.
Ah, but I quibble. Taken as a whole "Groupers" proved to be a mostly engaging and entertaining romp from start to finish. And it is yet another robust reminder that the crazies cozily crowded into California are one wildly whacked-out group.
First time feature film Writer/Director Anderson Cowan has a definite agenda here. Bullying, particularly preying on homosexuals simply because they're homosexuals, is not right. And he is, of course, right. But Andy, did you have to be so relentlessly preachy in driving your point home? Evidently you did 'cuz this is what ya did. Though I gotta say the "fruit roll-up" reference was a stroke of wink-wink genius. Well played, rookie. Oh, and may I add that I really like the fitting choice of Bible verses you chose to bookend your flick, too.
Ah, but I quibble. Taken as a whole "Groupers" proved to be a mostly engaging and entertaining romp from start to finish. And it is yet another robust reminder that the crazies cozily crowded into California are one wildly whacked-out group.
OOF. Yeah, sorry but this is not good.
luxvoyager18 December 2020
How does this movie have so many glowing user reviews?? Sure, there are worse films out there, but it was the kind of movie that makes you very aware of having wasted time in your life by watching it. And now I'm wasting more time in my life to tell you that despite all the user reviews saying how this is a "low budget gem" or whatever, you might think end up thinking it's awful and regret wasting your life on it.
PS - by the end some of the characters are so bad that I actually physically cringed.
PS - by the end some of the characters are so bad that I actually physically cringed.
Absolutely no redeeming value
mwdc-1968225 January 2021
I am not a film critic...and I enjoyed the movie
troytaylor-040363 January 2020
I am not a critic or a "film school guy", I am just like to watch various types of movies and appreciate them for what they are, a brief escape from reality. This movie is weird, somewhat disturbing, and has some dark humor to hold the attention of the audience throughout. It's a look into how groups form, shape your thinking, and ultimately how we can grow out of the 'group think' mindset. If you don't take yourself too seriously, you can, and should, enjoy this film for what it is...
Don't assume that all good reviews are fake. I really liked this movie
future_release30 December 2019
Totally novel idea and really well acted, shot and nicely developed.
Sure it has flaws but I'd much rather watch this movie that has created such a visceral reaction from people than some of the other, middle of the road trash currently out there.
Really nice work
Sure it has flaws but I'd much rather watch this movie that has created such a visceral reaction from people than some of the other, middle of the road trash currently out there.
Really nice work
Promise turns to trash!
stevepat9928 December 2019
An interesting premise heads full bore down the toilet. I also found it to be an idiotic second half that was absurdly poor in all cinematic respects. Watch this film with your hand firmly on either the abort or super fast forward buttons.
Someone is Trying to Tank this Movie... Don't Let Them!
Brennan_PodHost4 January 2020
Groupers is an incredibly fun, surprisingly poignant, and undeniably original film. I was lucky enough to see it in theaters and when I first checked the ratings they were where I expected them to be (in the 7-8 range)
Suddenly, an influx of 1 star reviews (oddly on the same day) have unfairly hurt the little-indie-Movie-that-could. Im not sure if it's homophobes or someone who has it out for the director or one of the actors, but it certainly seems suspicious.
Check it out for yourself!
Suddenly, an influx of 1 star reviews (oddly on the same day) have unfairly hurt the little-indie-Movie-that-could. Im not sure if it's homophobes or someone who has it out for the director or one of the actors, but it certainly seems suspicious.
Check it out for yourself!
Entertaining debut
Anthony_francis20003 January 2020
Good idea
BandSAboutMovies23 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
A grouper is someone who changes sexual gender or orientation later in life. This film also tells us that it also means a bottom-dwelling fish. Two all-American, homophobic high school bullies are seduced by the lovely Meg and then kidnapped, drugged and awaken tied up face to face in an abandoned pool. Absurdity and insanity ensue as we learn that Meg plans on performing a psychological and somewhat sadistic experiment on them to get revenge for the way they've treated her brother Orin.
Groupers is packed with outlandish characters, including a one-eyed street thug and a philosophical squatter who all get caught up in this odd tale of revenge while bringing their own, ambiguous motives (and opinions) to the party as they pontificate whether homosexuality is a choice.
Groupers is packed with outlandish characters, including a one-eyed street thug and a philosophical squatter who all get caught up in this odd tale of revenge while bringing their own, ambiguous motives (and opinions) to the party as they pontificate whether homosexuality is a choice.
Strong first half, messy second half
mikalaz1 January 2022
It started off real strong (including a great opening shot). The first half was really promising as the movie took its time introducing us to the characters and setting up a unique plot. Unfortunately, the second half becomes way too messy as it brought on too many characters and long dialogue that made the story more complicated. This movie would have been best if it kept the story small/simple, had fewer characters, and was under 90min. Movie was between a 4-5 star rating for me...
Fell apart quick
christophermgowsell6 January 2020
I listen to Anderson on tfv regularly so I understand his sensibilities first act was ok that's the only positive thing I can say. People giving this 10 or 8 even 6 are falling prey to his belly aching on his show come on Anderson I understand you put alot of time and effort into this movie I appreciate the effort but just accept that it's not a good movie for audiences to watch better luck next time. Don't quick trying you have talent
A confused mediocre movie
tetrahex29 December 2019
Based on the fallacy of "if you don't like it you are it" the movie started on the wrong foot, but its not that certain that its even woke as every character is unlikable in every way, it doesn't work as satire either. Once the main premise starts wearing thin a cartoon squatter squad is thrown in to bring on a conclusion, Its just bizarre and boring, how did this ever get funded.
Complete mess of a film...writing a review was the only reason to watch to the end.
stuartho-6738630 October 2021
The start of the film showed some promise despite the painful poor acting. I must be in the wrong frame of mind because nothing of the film is humourous. The first half revolves around a revenge and an avenging for homophobic bullying revealed in the most ridiculous scenario. Then three characters are introduced, one of the three is relatively intelligent. The original premise of the film begins to shift. After 20min of these clowns, another three characters are introduced, again one of three has a sense of intelligent. The introduction of these six characters shifts the film to the acting out of stereotyped derogatory cliched characteristics of society. The baseline of homophobia is reintroduced near the end of the film. I thought it was going to resolve with the original two male leads. The film is absolutely incohesive and just so choppy and poorly executed.
Fun cast of characters
sibleybridges16 May 2020
A well executed indy
joshbutler-099013 January 2020
What Anderson Cowan has done on an extreme shoestring budget is nothing short of impressive. The writing is witty and funny, the acting by virtual unknowns, is very impressive, and the execution, while messy towards the end, is still very good for a first time writer/director.
Promise but falls slightly short
ajones3117 January 2020
I bought this movie because I'm a fan of the filmmaker's podcasting endeavors. The film has some great moments. The Rashomon-style sequences are really well-done. And the performances by Nicole Dambro as Meg and Terrance Wentz as Durant are incredible. It is clearly an indie film and I forgive (and actually appreciate) some of those indie flaws, but I have a hard time forgiving the bad dialogue. Some of it is saved by great performances from the actors and the interesting story, but, ultimately, the dialogue brings it down from 9 to 6 stars.
A rather strange movie...
paul_haakonsen29 March 2022
Right, well I have to say that the synopsis for this movie sounded pretty far out there. But at the same time it also had the lure of something that could be potentially a great and unique movie. Granted, I had never heard about "Groupers" from writer and director Anderson Cowan prior to sitting down in 2022 to watch the movie for the first time. So I wasn't fully sure what I was getting into here.
"Groupers" fell short of being a wholesome movie for me, and provided me with only a bit of entertainment. Sure, I think that the concept of standing up to homophobic behavior is the way to go about it, but to do it with bereavement of freedom, degrading and humiliating behavior, psychological torment, and more, that is just not hardly something that seems appropriate. And yet, that is essentially all that "Groupers" is about. So not really a great movie from writer and director Anderson Cowan.
I have to say that I found myself somewhat appalled and starting to dislike Meg (played by Nicole Dambro) and Orin (played by Jesse Pudles), as they were inflicting torment upon the homophobic Dylan (played by Cameron Duckett) and Brad (played by Peter Mayer-Klepchick). I am not sure that is how writer and director Anderson Cowan intended the movie to turn out, but that is what it did to me. I started to have sympathy for the homophobes here given the humiliation and torment they were exposed to.
It should be said, though, that the acting performances in the movie were actually quite good. I wasn't familiar with the cast in the movie, but they definitely carried the movie quite well, despite of the oddly twisted material they had to work with in terms of storyline, characters and dialogue.
Overall, then "Groupers" was a slow paced movie, and there simply wasn't enough interesting contents to the storyline to make it a great or particularly enjoyable movie. Yet, I managed to sit through the ordeal to the very end. However, this is not a movie that I would recommend you rush out to get to watch, nor is it a movie that I will ever return to watch a second time.
My rating of the 2019 movie "Groupers" lands on a four out of ten stars.
"Groupers" fell short of being a wholesome movie for me, and provided me with only a bit of entertainment. Sure, I think that the concept of standing up to homophobic behavior is the way to go about it, but to do it with bereavement of freedom, degrading and humiliating behavior, psychological torment, and more, that is just not hardly something that seems appropriate. And yet, that is essentially all that "Groupers" is about. So not really a great movie from writer and director Anderson Cowan.
I have to say that I found myself somewhat appalled and starting to dislike Meg (played by Nicole Dambro) and Orin (played by Jesse Pudles), as they were inflicting torment upon the homophobic Dylan (played by Cameron Duckett) and Brad (played by Peter Mayer-Klepchick). I am not sure that is how writer and director Anderson Cowan intended the movie to turn out, but that is what it did to me. I started to have sympathy for the homophobes here given the humiliation and torment they were exposed to.
It should be said, though, that the acting performances in the movie were actually quite good. I wasn't familiar with the cast in the movie, but they definitely carried the movie quite well, despite of the oddly twisted material they had to work with in terms of storyline, characters and dialogue.
Overall, then "Groupers" was a slow paced movie, and there simply wasn't enough interesting contents to the storyline to make it a great or particularly enjoyable movie. Yet, I managed to sit through the ordeal to the very end. However, this is not a movie that I would recommend you rush out to get to watch, nor is it a movie that I will ever return to watch a second time.
My rating of the 2019 movie "Groupers" lands on a four out of ten stars.
Inventive filmmaking!
irawatson-091973 January 2020
This is a film with a message and a unique voice in Director Anderson Cowan. While some folks may get their feathers ruffled, that should be the goal of any good film: creating a conversation that, with any luck, will maybe cause some unity and acceptance.
My Review Of "Groupers"
ASouthernHorrorFan14 September 2019
The movie is almost as cool as the synopsis reads. Almost. The first forty minutes set the stage, going right into the film's, dark, almost underground nature. And it is a good start. The characters feel familiar and the dialogue flows naturally from the characters. The immediate situation is edgy enough to hook you in. It all is a bit of theatrics that set on the edge of what is plausible, much in the way of films like "Pecker", "The Chumscrubber" and "Hard Candy".
The cast do a great job, for the most part, giving life to these "fringe" characters. However the energy and substance begins to lack at the midway point. Dialogue starts to feel redundant and the story arc sort of stalls out. There's still enough taking place to keep your attention, with just the scope of the situation, the introduction of the bullied brother that is most likely insane, and the continued tight performance by several of the cast.
Unfortunately things hit a wall with the last act. "Groupers" introduces a twist to the movie that does more to disrupt the overall flow of the story than it does to muck up Meg's agenda. It adds a distraction to the plot that doesn't make sense and does nothing to enhance the story. Still this is a cool, fresh, generation Z film that brings light and levity to an otherwise dark subject of homophobia and bullying. Just go in knowing that it gives half of what it sets out to achieve, and enjoy the downward, comedic spiral.
The cast do a great job, for the most part, giving life to these "fringe" characters. However the energy and substance begins to lack at the midway point. Dialogue starts to feel redundant and the story arc sort of stalls out. There's still enough taking place to keep your attention, with just the scope of the situation, the introduction of the bullied brother that is most likely insane, and the continued tight performance by several of the cast.
Unfortunately things hit a wall with the last act. "Groupers" introduces a twist to the movie that does more to disrupt the overall flow of the story than it does to muck up Meg's agenda. It adds a distraction to the plot that doesn't make sense and does nothing to enhance the story. Still this is a cool, fresh, generation Z film that brings light and levity to an otherwise dark subject of homophobia and bullying. Just go in knowing that it gives half of what it sets out to achieve, and enjoy the downward, comedic spiral.
I want to defend this, but...
matthewssilverhammer30 April 2022
I appreciate the grit and hutzpah it took to get this made, and I hate crapping on tiny movies. It's spirited, (at times) clever, and hardly unwatchable...but it's also messy, arduous, and leans too hard on interminable bro-philosophizing that we have plenty of and that ultimately leads to nothing.
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