American Loser

This is not at all funny. Expected it to be ok from seeing some of his other films.

Also don't really appreciate seeing dying fish in a movie.....

The story wasn't really straightforward (ie: it was a narrative of the character's screwed up life that didn't have a message or a lesson... at least not superficially), but the ride that you get to go on while watching it is really fun... especially because the actor is Seann William Scott, who (whom?) nobody expects anything good out of (b/c of all his mindless comedic roles), yet he totally owns the role... I was super happy to see the clips of the actual character (many apologies for not remembering his name, especially since he so fondly reminds me of the glorious negativity of Bill Hicks) during the credits.... That showed me the difference between the real person and SWS's portrayal, yet it it proved to me how well (do not read "accurately", only read "well", considering SWS is portraying the character dramatically, which almost always, as in this story, embellishes/exaggerates reality) SWS portrayed the character.

Whoever wrote this movie is the definition of "American Loser." Nothing whatsoever in this movie made sense. Not funny, dramatic, or entertaining. Watching paint dry would be more entertaining than having to sit through this nonsense.

I saw this film at SIFF last night with my g/f and her mother.

I didn't research the film at all, just looked at the description and gave it a go. So when the opening credits said it was a true story, i thought it was a joke. It wasn't.

The movie itself moves along very well and the main character pushes the plot along with his "sharing" sessions in various 12-step meetings. He is ADD, alcoholic (recovering), has tourettes, and badly needs to be "liked". He can't keep a job and depends on his "Mommy" for emotional and financial support. Wholly self-absorbed, he is yet charming and innocent.

There is a love interest in the plot, but it really doesn't come off as one of those forced Hollywood sub-plots added for mass appeal. The male and female leads are impressive, as is the whole cast (many recognizable actors). Not predictable, and as I learned after the film... even the most ridiculous events were indeed factual.

I'd hate to compare this movie to anything, but I can't help but thinking of American Splendor (or Crumb). It's not quite as docu-drama as either of those two films, but the character (in real life and on screen) has very similar eccentricities.

Don't know if it will be released nationwide, but will definitely be in the DVD (ugh) cult film section of your video store one day.

People should know, Movie was based off 2007 pithy/ cleaver but ultimately weak memoir Train Wreck, ( on Amazon reviewed by kirkus ect) writen by me Jeff Nichols,published by Simon and Shuster a top five publisher. The only reviewer that recognizes this it Variety cuz their prose. There a lot of funny stuff in memoir ( read free sample) , despite weak narrative; basically I over came very little to achieve nothing. Esp compared to... say Ray Charles who was blind, broke and black in the deep south in 1950, only to become a beloved national.icon. This was not me, for sure Movie left out special ED bording schools, that take up 30 percent of book, prepubescent gay sex; and massive drug abuse. The amount of drugs I did would have created problems in work force and obsticals to the establishment. As the film stands now, Jeff's obsticals are unknown ( not shown) so audience can't get behind protagonist and route for him. Just s bunch of sad scenes, burning the house down is a funny ass story, they made it essentially sad. The LA fires were Sad toput things into perspective, George burning down a country house was done on Seinfeld for christ sake. Executive director had a morbid streak that tempered movies ability to help others through humor. I'm a funny, mfler Google Jeff nichols comedian. I was Not the best stand up, but youl get the idea , and see the major miss. Formula: Bad book makes bad movie.