The New Guy (2002)

A high school senior branded uncool in the ninth grade gets himself expelled so he changes his image to cool kid at the town's other high school.

Director:

Ed Decter

Writer:

David Kendall

Stars:

DJ Qualls, Lyle Lovett, Eliza Dushku

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
DJ Qualls	...	Dizzy
Eliza Dushku	...	Danielle
Zooey Deschanel	...	Nora
Jerod Mixon	...	Kirk
Parry Shen	...	Glen
Lyle Lovett	...	Bear
Eddie Griffin	...	Luther
Sunny Mabrey	...	Courtney
Ross Patterson	...	Conner
Matt Gogin	...	Ed Ligget
Horatio Sanz	...	Dance Instructor
Tony Hawk	...	Self
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Principal Zaylor
Charlie O'Connell	...	Charlie
Gene Simmons	...	Reverend

Storyline

Dizzy Harrison is an unpopular, high school geek going through a hellish senior year. In an attempt to make a new identity for himself, Dizzy gets himself expelled from his high school, learns the technics of being cool from a prison inmate, and enrolls at a new high school under the alias Gil Harris, to make new friends where he soon gains respect from the jocks and geeks alike. Dizzy then gets noticed by the head cheerleader, Danielle, and helps the school football team gain self-respect to win games. But things unknowingly begin to turn sour when Danielle's disgruntled boyfriend begins investigating into "Gil Harris'" past to uncover any dirt on him.

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Plot Keywords:

teenage boy | teenage girl | attempted escape | three word title | bass guitar | 

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Taglines:

A zero will rise

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, language, crude humor and mild drug references

Did You Know?

Trivia

The concept of the high school likeness and the Scottish theme/mascot were modeled after the real life Glendora High School located in Southern California.

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Goofs

At Danielle's restaurant, the lights that form the shape of a cowboy in the background change from facing the left to facing the right between shots.

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Quotes

Connor: I think I oughta go over there and kick his ass.
Danielle: That's great, because I've always dreamed of dating the expelled guy.
Courtney: Expelled guys rock!

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Crazy Credits

During the credits, there are bloopers. After that, Dizzy and Danielle ride on into the sunset and Danielle falls off the horse.

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Connections

References Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

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Soundtracks

You Really Got Me
Written by Ray Davies
Produced by Ralph Sall
Performed by Eve 6
Courtesy of The RCA Records Label, a unit of BMG Entertainment

User Reviews

Much more intelligent than meets the eye

Rented this movie as a late sunday afternoon movie, thinking it would be lame and a no-brainer that could help me ease my hangover. I wasn't prepared to laugh, I just wanted something to watch without thinking too much. But it turned out to be the funniest movie I've seen for a long time! I reckon that those comments on this movie that were negative, didn't get the underlying humour in the movie that isn't that obvious. For me it was kind of a kick in the nuts to other teen movies, making fun of the clichés found in these films. At the same time it uses these elements to make some really good jokes and giving it a ironic touch. I mean; the "whipping look" was just hilarious!! Just the whole "looser getting cool" plot is so over the top, it has to be ironic.

I believe this is a movie that european filmlovers would like much more than the americans. It plays on a level that is not easy to understand when living in the middle of the "reality" it is portraying. For us "outsiders" it is so much funnier.

If you don't get the movie, then you're not...sorry I don't mean to offend anybody...that in touch with reality. Sorry....

****(*) out of ******

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 May 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

The New Guy

Filming Locations:

11200 Lakeline Mall Dr, Cedar Park, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,007,833, 12 May 2002

Gross USA:

$29,760,152

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$31,167,388

Company Credits

Production Co:

Revolution Studios, Bedlam Pictures, Frontier Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min 92 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1