Fanboys

by Lelia Nebeker

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, FANBOYS was created. Unfortunately, it took quite some time for it to be released, but now it has finally made its way to DVD. It’s the story of a group of die-hard STAR WARS fans in their early twenties who decide to fulfill their adolescent dreams and drive to George Lucas’ California ranch to sneak a peek at the unreleased STAR WARS: EPISODE I. The performances by Dan Fogler and Jay Baruchel (TROPIC THUNDER) are so spot-on you wonder if they are actually professional geeks pretending to be actors. The adorably clueless Baruchel and the insanely wild Fogler play off each other well. Chris Marquette also gives a solid performance, balancing sarcasm with the emotional turmoil of his character’s struggle with terminal cancer. Kristen Bell steals every scene she’s in, whether she’s flashing people, wrestling them to the ground, or dressed in full Princess Leia bikini garb. And she does it all while maintaining the snarky but lovable disposition she mastered on "Veronica Mars".

The main cast is great as it is, but the real hilarity is derived from the numerous unexpected cameos. William Shatner, Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes, Will Forte, Craig Robinson, Carrie Fisher, and Billy Dee Williams all make quick but memorable appearances. The funniest scene would have to be Seth Rogen with a prosthetic nose being attacked by Seth Rogen with a mustache and a Jar Jar Binks tattoo. The constant STAR WARS references alone are enough to keep you chuckling throughout the film. FANBOYS is a comedy for the inner fanboy (or girl) in all of us. I, for one, am glad to hear that despite its mediocre earnings at the box office, director Kyle Newman is already planning for a sequel.