Slackers (2002)

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

Director:

Dewey Nicks

Writer:

David H. Steinberg

Stars:

Devon Sawa, Robert B. Martin Jr., Jason Segel

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 (as Don Michaelson M.D.)
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.

---

Plot Keywords:

male objectification | nerd | fall | blackmail | scam | 

---

Taglines:

When all else fails... cheat.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Romance

---

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 USA:

$2,785,283, 3 February 2002, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$4,814,244, 10 February 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 original name for the movie was "The Undergrads", but it was changed to avoid any confusion with there being a movie of the popular MTV animated series Undergrads (2001)

---

Goofs

In the last shot of the film, as credits begin to roll and Ethan has finished singing his song, you can see several feet of the dolly track on the floor of the diner. One of the extras sitting in a booth even comes close to tripping over it. In the wide screen version of this film the dolly track is not visible.

---

Quotes

Ethan: He's in my seat.
Head T.A. Philip: Yeah... and we're grown-ups. We don't argue over seats. Now go sit over there. There are plenty of empty seats there.

---

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!".

---

Connections

References Schoolhouse Rock! (1973)

---

Soundtracks

S.O.S.
Music by Charles Williams
Courtesy of FirstCom Music, Inc.

User Reviews

An under-rated subversive take on the normal teen fare

I'm actually a huge fan of all teen films, but I think this one was vastly under-rated. Some comments give the impression that it is another gross-out teen romp with nothing new to offer. In actual fact although it may be ranked alongside films such as American Pie Road Trip etc, and though it shares common themes, it is actually a far superior film. As a result, people expect a film similar to the aforementioned, and are faced instead with one which has slightly more to offer. I found this very entertaining and surprising; quite subversive and original in actual fact, more likely to appeal to a greater intellect than that of a 13 year-old the jokes are more ironic and subtle in general, with a few obvious "gross-out" moments sprinkled in between. Though these as well are done with tongue firmly in cheek.

I would highly recommend this film, and prepare to be presently surprised by a film that most people fobbed off as another teen movie, but which is actually a lot more than that.