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Loser - The KingLove Movie Guide Review 7/00
Starring: Jason Biggs, Mena Suvari, Greg Kinnear. Directed by Amy Heckerling. 97 minutes. Rated PG-13 (for language, drug content, crude sexual material)
A sweet, modern day teen flick take on the reliable boy meets girl. "Loser" has a brainy, slightly geeky country boy and the hip, cool, street smart city girl that doesn't know she's the object of his desire. Being in love ain't easy when you're out of your element, and taking on the biggest and meanest city in the world, New Yawk, New Yawk. NYU to be exact. Boy meets girl pretty easily, but of course boy needs to win girl away from a horrendous relationship and the complication of rohipnol pushing, devious spoiled brat roomies.
Attractiveness & Chemistry
Two hot young stars fit their roles well, indeed. Mena Suvari (Dora) made her big splash in last year's Best Picture winner, American Beauty, and was also in American Pie. She's easy on the eyes, for sure, even with her new semi-goth look. Paul (Jason Biggs), has a growing following from his role in other teen movies like American Pie and Boys and Girls. He's ga ga after her from the get go. That's of course entirely realistic. Can his lack of a jaded view, overall sweetness, and honesty win Dora over? Is that what Dora really wants? Hell, throw in the fact that he helps save kittens, and what do you think?
Story line
Lots better than your average teen love flick. Amy Heckerling (first big hit was the classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High) knows how to put a fun spin on things. If you're in college, or if you've been through college, you'll remember issues related to the housing situation, and the cool vs. brainy & wanting to fit in issues. Paul gets put into a horrific living situation, and his pleasantness only gets him further in trouble. Luckily, he meets Dora, who is not only hot, but the only person to actually talk to him.
Paul's off the wall nice, and the odds are against him to win Dora. However, despite her kleptomania, ability to fib, and poor choice in boyfriends, she's nearly as nice and caring as him. Paul's so nice, he can't bring himself to try to get her away from that pretentious Professor Alcott, brilliantly played by Greg Kinnear.
It's one of those - "why would she date someone like that/what kind of relationship is that?/gosh, he's so much cooler" things, but they happen. Paul's bonehead moves, lack of hipness to pop culture and honesty can win just about anybody over. Throw in the heavy-handed puppies and kitten saving, a new hair-do, and even giving money back to his grandfather.. you'd think it would be all over. Will the underdog win?
Nookie Factor
Not a movie of gratuitous skin shots (except for a scene or two in a strip bar). Dora makes her Professor feel good. She and Paul spend some time in a kennel, and yes, for them it's a type of Puppy Love. It's sweet, and you know the characters really, truly, deeply (etc.) care about each other. It takes them a while to get together (winning hearts usually isn't easy). Perhaps if they kept the cameras on another twenty minutes, it would move to an R rating!
Comments from the People!
"She's an American Beauty 4sure!"
"..wasn't he the guy who had sex with an apple pie?"
"Greg Kinnear was dastardly great.."
"Jason is going to be a much bigger star than Freddie Prinze, Jr."
"Heavy handed sap, but that's the way I like it (uh-huh, uh-huh)."
"The roommates totally cracked me up.."
"Great cameos, particularly David Spade"
KingLove's overall rating
Anybody who wins Mena Suvari's heart is no Loser. "Loser" is sweeter than raspberry iced tea at a drive-in. Grab your honey and go!
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