|
|
Latest Images
Top Affiliates
|
|
Press - 2004
'Tripping' Was Never This Much Fun - Eurotrip Review
Rating: B+
Starring: Starring Scott Mechlowicz, Jacob Pitts, Michelle Tractenberg,
Travis Webster. Music by James L. Venable, Edited by Roger Bondell,
Production Designer Allan Starski, Director of Photography David Eggby,
Executive Producers Ivan Reitman, Tom Pollack, Produced by Daniel
Goldberg, Jackie Marcus, Alec Berg, David Mandel, Written by Alec Berg &
David Mandel & Jeff Schaffer, Directed by Jeff Shaffer.
Rated R, Running Time 90 mins. 1.85: 1 Academy Standard Aspect Ratio.
I think we're all in the mood for an absurd teen comedy every once in a
while. Five years ago the original "American Pie" signaled the return of
the great American teen sex comedy only to turn into a franchise and get
progressively worse and repetitive with each sequel. Those types of films
dominated the 80's but quickly dried up when the 90's came about and I
pretty much thought the genre was dead. 2004 appears to be the year when
things may get back on track with the arrival of a wonderful new film
called "The Girl Next Door". The powers that be won't give me the
opportunity to reveal what a gem that film is just yet, so I have another
feature to offer you. The New Year is still fairly young and just when I
didn't think a better film wouldn't arrive to support this genre comes
"Eurotrip", a hysterically funny comedy that gave me a glimmer of hope.
Scotty (Scott Mechlowicz) has just graduated from High School, but he
isn't happy. His longtime girlfriend Fiona (Kristen Kreuk) has just dumped
him and to top it off she made a song about her unfaithfulness with a
skin-headed rocker titled "Scotty Doesn't Know." After being humiliated
when Fiona and her new boyfriend perform the song at the senior class
party, Scotty retreats to his computer where he exchanges e-mails with his
Berlin based pen pal Mieke (pronounced Mike). When Mieke makes an innocent
pass at Scotty, suggesting that they hookup, Scotty freaks out and shuts
the guy down with an abrasive reply. To his horror he discovers that Mieke
(really pronounced Meeka) is a girl's name and that he may have ruined any
chances of hooking up with a beautiful buxom blonde.
The offended Mieke (the very lovely German pop star Jessica Boehrs) quite
naturally blocks any incoming emails from Scotty, so what's a guy to do in
order to hook up with the girl of his dreams? You drag your obnoxious best
friend Cooper (Jacob Pitts) along for a fantastic "Eurotrip" to Berlin.
Cooper (who constantly convinces his bosses via cell phone that he's
working down in the mailroom) gets them a reduced fare to London by
traveling as couriers. Before long they've fallen into the hands of the
Manchester United Football team whose leader is none other than the
foul-mouthed yet lovable Vinnie Jones. (More foul-mouthed, less lovable.)
But don't worry, as long as they know the team theme song (here's a hint
it's Sheena Easton's "Morning Train") the gang will give them a ride to
Paris on their double Decker bus that carries the sign "If you're not a
Manc, use your Wank". Once the boys get there they can rendezvous with
twins Jamie (Travis Webster) and Jenny (Michelle Tractenberg). One is a
neurotic travel bookworm the other is considered just "a guy with long
hair" by Cooper, who can't see her for the hot girl she is.
The gang's next stop is Amsterdam, "... the drug and sex capital of
Europe," exclaims Cooper, because he knows this is where the real fun
begins. They discover the wonderful exchange rate where $1.83 in American
dollars is worth thousands in Europe (yeah, sure), the power of drinking
absinthe where you can find yourself conversing with "the green fairy"
(green fat man with wings more like it) one moment and making out with
your sister the next and the fact that every time they board a train, a
particular Gay Parisian man shows up wanting to give the boys a massage.
How is it that our heroes keep finding themselves in all of these
ridiculous and stereotypical situations you say? Well, they're in a movie
and it seems like they have some idea of that.
"Eurotrip" was co-produced by Ivan Reitman, the legendary genius behind
classics such as "Stripes", "Ghostbusters" the recent "Road Trip" and "Old
School" and he even made Howard Stern respectable as an actor in "Private
Parts." Reitman knows that what makes a film like this work is its
absurdity. It's designed to be ridiculous, it's designed to offend. If
you've had any experience with these types of films you'd know you're not
supposed to take its characters, situations or politics seriously. This is
the type of movie that exists in a parallel universe, a reality where
almost anything is possible. Where else would characters find themselves
engaging in "Vandersexx" with dominatrix Lucy Lawless, getting it on
upside down in a confession booth or visiting the Vatican, and making all
of Rome believe the pope is dead? What keeps the film from being boring is
it's rapid-fire delivery of comedy and situations. Even the ones that
didn't work and fell flat still got a laugh from me because of the effort.
A gag as silly and simple as Scotty's email greeting is pretty memorable.
First time director Jeff Schaffer worked on "The Cat in the Hat" with
co-writers Alec Berg and David Mandel (I know, that film tanked, but I
enjoyed it for its tenacity) and here without the restrictions of a PG-13
rating, they push the limit. Some of the humor is so strong I'm surprised
it made the final cut. Imagine what an uncut DVD would contain? With the
absurd situations and dialogue they've crafted, they draw attention away
from the film's poor production values and the fact that any shots you see
of actors in front of Europe, London's Big Ben or the Vatican are blue
screen and entirely forgivable. This film was shot in Europe by way of
Toronto or Vancouver if you ask me, but that's beside the point. The
location isn't what makes the comedy, but the situations and how the
characters react to them. I also got a soft spot for the German renditions
of popular American tunes on the soundtrack including that popular number
(in Germany that is) "Du" by none other that David Hasselhoff.
Some fine casting in the form of stars Scott Mechlowicz who resembles a
young David Duchovney, Jacob Pitts who has an uncanny resemblance and
mannerisms of a young David Spade and Michelle Tractenberg who resembles,
well, an older Michelle Tractenberg. I'm positive her die-hard fans (and
you know who you are) will appreciate her bikini shots and see that she's
come a long way from "Buffy" and "Harriet the Spy" in such a short time.
I'm also sure that Kristen Kreuk's fans will wish she were this aggressive
and bitchy on "Smallville".
There are also some great cameos from Vinnie Jones, Joanna Lumley and Rade
Zerbaejia as a Braslavian who rides around in an orange "General Lee"
pick-up and is happy they've just got that new show "Miami Vice" on TV.
Even Lucy Lawless, Xena herself as a very methodical dominatrix pops up
and yes, the pope himself (just kidding). There's also an appearance by a
certain best friend of Ben Affleck as Fiona's new skin-headed, tattooed
rocker boyfriend who will have you singing his theme song "Scotty Doesn't
Know" on the way home. (Trust me, it gets into your head).
Some of these cameos are from serious dramatic actors who seem to have
grasped the tone of the film and the fact that they throw themselves into
it makes it funnier. See Vinnie Jones's outtakes and you'll know what I
mean. Even the end credits of this film are loaded with outtakes and
additional moments that make this film burst at the seams with comedy. I
guarantee you, that if you go to this film, with an open mind and in the
mood for laughs you will not be disappointed. If it doesn't work for you,
then you're either too cynical or just dead, but trust me, "Eurotrip" is a
trip worth taking, pun intended.
|
