Everybody Wants Some Review
RYAN: This is the latest from writer/director Richard Linklater, who is calling it the spiritual sequel to Dazed and Confused, which I never saw. I’m not a big fan of his and didn’t love this movie for many of the reasons I don’t like most of his work – it’s plotless, aimless, not much going on. I never really connected to or cared about any of the characters.
CHUCK: And I’m on the opposite side – I love Linklater, love Dazed and Confused, always have. And while you don’t find this cinematic, I love what he does with a slice of life. There’s not a plot, but it’s their weekend. And you learn about people who are meeting each other.
RYAN: The movie does a good job at making you aware that it’s bigger than what’s just happening in the current scene with characters. It’s such a huge ensemble that you’re kind of always with them, no matter who is being focused on at any moment. Most movies keep you focused just on what’s happening in the scene.
BECKY: And the dudes are all very well developed. There are barely any women in it.
RYAN: It was more objectifying women, which took me out of it. I missed the presence of women in it. There is one but it’s really like a Porky’s movie. It’s just a bunch of guys trying to get some the whole time. And it’s been touted as his 80s film but it’s not really. It’s really late 70s. I wish it was more mid-80s.
BECKY: To me, there’s something about that time period as a bit darker and this movie was so bright. Even the nudity in this film – it was so bright and filled in. It could have been a made for cable TV. It really didn’t feel like anything in this should be in a movie.
RYAN: Yeah it really doesn’t beg to be seen in the cinema. The story doesn’t really amount to one, necessarily, needing to be told. It’s kind of a waste of the cast because I really like that talent here. You have Zoey Deutch, Lea Thompson’s daughter, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell’s son, Wyatt, Blake Jenner – the dude from Glee, and another, Glen Powell, from Scream Queens. I did sort of get into it about three quarters of the way through when there’s a bit of a relationship to hold onto but not much.
BECKY: I liked Wyatt’s character the most, for reasons I don’t wanna reveal because it’s a spoiler. But his was the most believable and cool to watch. That guy exists and he played it well. And the movie lacks resolution which I liked.
CHUCK: I remember this time though. The weekend before college starts, everyone on the prowl – it’s what everyone did. This movie really took me back. I know half of those guys on the screen and I’ve been to parties like that.
RYAN: I liked the diversity of the parties and the types of groups of kids. The theater kids had a meta moment, as Jake was in the scene, having been from Glee. He was the reality competition show to be on Glee – it was called The Glee Project and I watched it.
BECKY: There was a lot of eye candy in this.
RYAN: They were all in good shape. Baseball players and yet it’s not a baseball or sports movie, which was cool.
CHUCK: I really related to this movie. I had friends like this. It was a simpler time.
RYAN: It was cool seeing all the records and VHS tapes and video games – a time before cell phones. That does take you back. The way people spent time was very different than today. Overall, though, it’s a basic movie that’s a rental at best – especially opening against The Jungle Book.
CHUCK: But if you like Linklater, you know what you’re getting into.
