Swingers (1996)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

I had heard the title of this movie a few times, including when one of the leading actors mentioned it in an interview or two, I had my assumptions of the meaning of the title, but I was looking forward to trying it for myself, directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Jumper, Edge of Tomorrow). Basically Mike Peters (Jon Favreau) is a struggling comedian who left New York City to find success in Los Angeles, and he is still upset about his girlfriend of six years, Michelle, breaking up with him six months ago. Mike's womanising friend Trent (Vince Vaughn, also writing) wants to help Mike with his depression, they and other aspiring actors try and get back into the social scene. Mike talks to his friend Rob (Office Space's Ron Livingston) about how desperately he misses Michelle, and that she has not called him, Rob thinks that she will only call him once she has completely moved on. To help Mike out, Trent coaxes him into an unplanned trip to Las Vegas. Trent succeeds in picking up two waitresses, but Mike's obsession with Michelle ruins things. Back in Los Angeles, Mike, Rob and other friends go bar hopping, stopping at a party, where Trent demonstrates his prowess in handling the opposite sex. Mike is inspired by this and meets a girl named Nikki (Brooke Langton) and gets her phone number, however he makes a number of increasingly anxious and desperate messages on her answering machine, to the point when she answers and disgustedly tells him not to call again. Mike misses Michelle more than ever, he contemplates moving back to New York until Rob comes over and consoles him. Out again for swing night at a Hollywood night club, Mike meets a girl named Lorraine (Heather Graham), he gains courage to approach her and connect with her. The next morning, Mike is called by Michelle, but he finds he no longer misses her, he also receives a call from Lorraine, he decides to end the call with Michelle to connect further with Lorraine. Also starring Patrick Van Horn as Sue and Alex Désert as Charles. Favreau does well as the out-of-work actor whose confidence has been shattered, and Vaughn gives a great performance as his charismatic friend refusing to let him wallow, Favreau's script is semi-autobiographical, based on his own experiences working in Hollywood, I will admit I did not follow a full story, but all the swinging parties and loads of men having banter, picking up women and complaining a lot is amusing, not a bad comedy drama. Worth watching!

I must be honest from the start the swingers just didn't do it for me.For starters Jon Favreau's performance is very bad.I understand that this is his first movie which he wrote and probably had the part written for himself but his character just isn't likable nor reletable in any way(Paul Rudd is made for these types of rolls and i am not a even a fan). His portrayal of a sensitive guy is very contrived and dull.The characters in this movie are very one dimensional ,no one ever says something meaningful or remotely funny, for a guy movie its slightly above average because you can see that a lot of creativity was involved but just didn't deliver and in the end couldn't pass for anything else unfortunately.The film itself isn't filmed well either.The camera angles are boring like someone filmed them without any prior knowledge of filming and had Martin Scorsese in mind .Vince Vaughn and Ron Living are okay but they always play the same parts.The reservoir dogs references are weak and deciduous.I understand that this movie is about guys going out and getting laid and showing up whats its like to be in your late 20s in Los Angeles ,New York during the 90s.But it does such a bad job that You thought you would have more fun in some torn third world country (no disrespect as i come from such a country myself)If you happen to like mediocre nostalgic guy movies.Go and watch it.But I've seen way better movies made with even less finance and more heart.Id be happy to recommend them.

The movie that made us know Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn will surely not disappoint. It's humor is unique to the two leads, and is organic in the sense that it hits home for them. They believe what's happening because they lived it.Written by Favreau and loosely based on he and Vaughn's life and friendship, Swingers is about a group of struggling actors who are involved in the '90s Hollywood swing revival. It follows Mike (Favreau), a New York native who can't get over his ex-girlfriend. But his friends, most notably Trent (Vaughn), try getting him out of his depression by forcing him back out onto the playing field.Both leads are fantastic. Vaughn wows the audience with his unique brand of fast-talking humor. And Favreau is so convincing as a wallowing sad sack that you genuinely feel bad for the guy.The scene towards the beginning where the pair of friends go to Las Vegas sets the tone for the entire movie. It establishes a style that is vehemently consistent throughout.Swingers has everything that will make you want to drive to Los Angeles and Las Vegas right this second. It ties together the glitz and glamor of both cities, seamlessly connecting the two. But I think what captures the neon vibe of the film's locations is the juxtaposition of failing to make it. This failure, of course, isn't stressed. It's still opportunity. It's optimism.Neither Mike nor Trent have had much success in the industry, but Trent is still having the time of his life, while Mike's only reason to be down on himself is his breakup. The film paints a perfect portrait of confident mediocrity, and being complacent with it.The story's exposition takes its time, but in a perfect way. Every scene has a sincere purpose and contributes to establishing the depth of its characters. But it's beyond just the characters. A movie is refreshingly good if even the circumstances have depth. In fact, that's when it's great.Twizard Rating: 97

This movie brings me to a bit of a dichotomy. The movie itself and the character interaction was good but the characters themselves irritated me. Basically we had the main character, Mike, had just lost his girlfriend, who said that she would give him a call. He is depressed (and this depression lasts 6 months) and his friend Trent tries to show him a good time. In the end he meets a girl who is in the same situation as he is and they end up going out.Mike spends the entire movie moping about his lost love and tries to extract sympathy from those around him. The problem here is that his girlfriend means everything to him, and when she is stripped away from him he has absolutely nothing left in his life. In fact he has quite a good life as he has friends, he is attractive, and his film career is on its way with a part in a pilot and hosting a comedy club. Yet he does not realise this, and in fact is so fixated on his ex-girlfriend that he ends up driving other girls away (though he elicits the sympathy of two waitresses in Las Vegas).His friend Trent is the opposite. He goes around with the belief that he is the greatest thing around. He believes that he can pick and chose his girls, and really treats them like sex objects. He cannot understand the deep rent in the relationship that Mike is experiencing. His answer is a couple of girls and pointless sex - that solves everything. His whole belief is undermined at the end when he believes that a woman is making baby faces at him when in fact she is making faces at her baby.What this movie does well is that it draws out the attitudes and beliefs of the characters. Even though they are annoying, they are real. People do feel depressed for six months after losing a love, especially if it is a relationship as such. I personally felt irritated over the characters, but the film itself was good.