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:

Vince Vaughn, Heather Graham, Jon Favreau

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:

seduction | premarital sex | waitress | pizza delivery boy | pizza | 

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Taglines:

This movie plays reality.

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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:

Тусовщики

Filming Locations:

Three Clubs, 1123 VINE ST, Hollywood, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$74,118, 20 October 1996, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$4,505,922, 2 February 1997

Company Credits

Production Co:

Doug Liman Productions,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 word "f-ck" is used ninety-five times, "bi-ch" is used thirty-one times, and "as-hole" thirteen times.

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Goofs

In the trailer Trent says the part he was auditioning for was called "Brother". Then he says the casting director said "Trent when you walked in the room, I didn't see Trent Walker come in here, I saw Big Brother come in here." Then he says the director said "I think you're a little old for the part of Brother."

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Quotes

Mike: Okay, so what if I don't want to give up on her?
Rob: You don't call.
Mike: But you said I don't call if I wanted to give up on her.
Rob: Right.
Mike: So I don't call either way?
Rob: Right.
Mike: So what's the difference?
Rob: There is no difference right now. See, Mike, the only difference between giving up and not giving up is if you take her back when she wants to come back. But you can't do anything to make her want to come back. In fact, you can only do stuff to make her not want to come back.
Mike: So the only difference is if I ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The rabbit in this production was trained with care and concern for its safety and wellbeing.

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Alternate Versions

Italian theatrical and video release omit a scene set in Las Vegas in the trailer park, where Trent tells the girl the story about his audition for the role of "brother".

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Connections

Referenced in Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland (2006)

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Soundtracks

Groove Me
Performed by King Floyd
Written by King Floyd
Courtesy of Malaco Records

User Reviews

Definitely worth checking out.

"The point is, Mike, that it all depends on how you look at it."

Swingers is the quintessential guy movie. Not to say that a woman won't enjoy it, or that it's a stereotypical collection of all the things that men are supposed to love in movies, like a non-stop testosterone-fueled orgy of naked women, explosions, and violence. 

Nope, Swingers is the quintessential guy movie because almost every guy can relate to at least part of it at some time during his life. The uncertainty about your career, the lingering pain of losing a girlfriend you truly loved, the camaraderie (and annoyances) of your friends, the frustrating world of dating and the games and "rules" that come along with it, and the feeling of that moment when you finally realize that your life can go on without that other person it revolved around so long.

The story focuses on Mike (Jon Favreau), an aspiring comedian in Los Angeles who has recently gone through a break-up with his long-term girlfriend back east, and his group of friends. Most of whom try to help Mike get over his break-up by meeting women in and around L.A. and Las Vegas. Especially his two best friends, ladies man Trent (Vince Vaughn) and Rob (Ron Livingston)  Most of the movie follows the group on their nightly romps through the city, or Mike as he struggles with the loss of the relationship that he was very much invested in.

I enjoyed the casual conversations the guys had about women, video games, their job efforts, and other things. Swingers really nailed the dynamics of how guys act with each other.

It's also pretty funny, though it's not a total comedy by any means. A lot of the humor derives from Mike's painful attempts to talk to women, after six long years off the market. There's a really hysterical sequence about Mike and a woman's answering machine later in the movie that will have you howling. 

I got the sense that Swingers is the kind of movie that holds up well after repeated viewings, and maybe even gets better. It's not amazing, or anything like that, but it is hard to imagine anyone (especially guys aged 20-29) not appreciating it.