Fanboys

2009 "Never tell them the odds."
6.5| 1h30m| PG-13| en| More Info
Released: 06 February 2009 Released
Producted By: The Weinstein Company
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

In 1999, Star Wars fanatics take a cross-country trip to George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch so their dying friend can see a screening of The Phantom Menace before its release.

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E. Catalan I like to consider myself a loyal Star Wars fan. I saw it when I was 10 years old so it had an immense impact on me. I know all the characters, all the planet's names, had all the soundtracks, etc., so I knew FANBOYS would be THE movie for the Star Wars geek in me.It is a good movie, done by very loyal fans and I did enjoy it. It just happens that the characters aren't that well developed and you kind of don't feel much for any of them, except for maybe Zoe (Kristen Bell) and her secret crush on young Lucas-look-alike Windows (Jay Baruchel). There's a guy dying of cancer here (Linus, played by Chris Marquette), the main reason for this whole movie to develop, yet this subplot is dropped almost dead. Linus' geek friends propose a cross country trip from east to west coast in order to break into George Lucas' Skywalker ranch and get a sneak peek at the (then) new Star Wars movie: The Phantom Menace, all before Linus passes away.It could've been a much better handled plot, since it had a great premise and the characters are really well cast. It's one of those stories that might've looked good on paper or spoken about, but never really pans out when filmed.I'll say it again: I enjoyed Fanboys, but it's because of that Star Wars geek inside of me. Other than that, it might not impress too many people out there.
sergio-arauzo This is the kind of movie that needs two very different ratings, depending on if you are a true fan of star wars or not. For true fans (like me), the films rates at least a 7. For everyone else, the film rates no more than a 3 or 4. So, if you are a true fan of the saga, you will love this film. It is full of topics, clichés, gags, cameos, and jokes that you will adore, and that you will understand. You will love Kirsten Bell in her Princess Leia costume. You will enjoy the jokes about trekkies. You will understand and laugh with the conversations of the main characters. For everyone else, if you do not know what I am talking about when I say "Han solo shot first", do not go to watch this movie, because you will get disappointed. Or at least, do not do it until you have learned about star wars universe.
Illinoisguy1 Oh my, what a complete bore of a movie.Oh my where to start? Well first off is Dan Fogler who is this filthy looking long haired dude who looks way to old to be hanging with these guys. Then we have Chris Marquette who is this Star Wars nerd who takes it way too seriously and to throw in some unneeded drama we learn that he has cancer. Jay Baruchel plays the stereotypical nerd with glasses. Sam Huntington plays the only character who seems to have grown up at all. In fact I would have liked to see a movie about his character at the car dealership and his dad.The road trip is composed of typical hijinks such as a fight between them and Trekkies, the gay biker bar, the getting high camp fire scene, getting thrown in jail and a side trip to Vegas. None of it laugh out loud funny. Most of it is just embarrassing.The highlight is the cameos by Billie Dee Williams, William Shatner, .Carrie Fisher, Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes. And when the cameos are the highlight you know that the film is a bore. You would think that they at least would throw in a George Lucas cameo. If you're going to make a movie about Star Wars you need to include the man who created it.The entire cancer subplot wasn't needed at all. It simply doesn't work for me and actually seems forced into the story.I swear I laugh more at the Robot Chicken or Family Guy spoofs than this movie.
brando647 Here is a film for the Star Wars geeks out there and only them. The story follows a group of five Star Wars obsessed friends in 1998 setting off on their own journey across the country to break in George Lucas's ranch and steal a copy of PHANTOM MENACE for an early screening. The original motivation for the endeavor is that one of the friends, Linus (Chris Marquette), has cancer and might not be around for it's theatrical release. It's a nice touch that could've added extra meaning behind the crazy plan of breaking into Lucas's home, but unfortunately its a fact that's breezed over and rarely mentioned over the course of the film. There had been reports of consistent trouble in the post-production process and studio interference that resulted in a lot of the cancer subplot being removed; if so, that's a shame because I think it could've only strengthened the plot, putting more meaning into their drastic actions.Nearly all of the humor in the film is related to the original epic trilogy and, while casual fans will understand a good deal of the references, I'm sure even more of the jokes will go right over their heads. A lot of the laughs come from throwbacks to iconic moments (the malfunctioning hyperdrive on the Falcon/Hutch's "lightspeed" on the van failing to function) and from the cameos scattered throughout the movie. All the best parts of the film are from the cameos dropping by in every other scene: Danny Trejo, Seth Rogen (in not one, but three bit parts), Ethan Suplee, Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, and a few key cameos that I'm not going to spoil here for those who plan to see the movie (the best being the "inside man" who supplies the information to get into Lucas's ranch).The cameos really steal the show in this movie (and there's practically one in every other scene) but the core cast certainly does a great job on their own. The central group of actors do such a good job and appear to be having so much fun that I wouldn't be surprised if they were Star Wars geeks off-set as well. It was a good idea casting actors who could almost be considered unknowns, most of them recognizable for past projects but far from being big names (with exceptions). Sam Huntington is the team's straight-man, Eric, who abandoned his friends after high school in favor of a job with his father's used car lot. Chris Marquette is Linus, the cancer-stricken friend providing the backbone for the whole motivation of the film; despite his cancer subplot being brushed under the carpet, his long-standing disappointment with Eric over giving up on their dream to start their own comic remains as the main point of contention to add some sort of conflict to their trip. Dan Fogler is easily the funniest cast member as the friend who continues to live in his mom's garage (sorry, "carriage house") and has the souped-up Star Wars van complete with R2-D2 poking out the top. Finally, Jay Baruchel as über-nerd Windows and Zoe Bell as the fangirl with an attitude round of the rest of the team.The movie is funny but the problem lies in that it targets a niche audience. People who aren't at least casual fans of the Star Wars movies might watch this and wonder what everyone else is laughing at. It's funny enough for us fans though that it makes for an entertaining movie the first time through, but repeated viewings don't stand up as well because the cameo surprises are old news and the trivia moments don't hold up.