Julian RuncanSwingers: Somewhat Stale
April 13th 2010 19:27
At the time of its release, Swingers probably took a lot of people by surprise. The movie had a fresh cast of unknowns, an incredibly talented director, and a very snappy script that came from a personal place. It’s interesting to see where Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, Ron Livingston, and Doug Liman got their big breaks, but much of what seemed so new at the time feels incredibly dated now.
The big problem with Swingers is that is feels like it’s trying to be cool. The friends talk about cool shots from movies, then go on to replicate them. They talk about video games, techniques for picking up women, and the superficial nature of their LA lifestyle. While much of it is good, these types of conversations were the bread and butter of independent films in the nineties, leaving some of these extended sequences feeling all-too played out.
Favreau nails his performance, but that’s expected when the story is about him, written for him, by him. Everyone knows someone like Mike, and he makes his own awkward frustration and desperation something everyone can relate to. Vaughn and Livingston hit their notes too, and the friends display a chemistry that can’t be faked. Director Doug Liman shows glimpses of his future potential, but the continual references to other films of the time come off as amateurish, especially when compared to his future works.
Although the characters get draining at times, Swingers is still an entertaining film. These guys come from a real place, and everyone knows at least one person like Mike. It’s pretty satisfying to see guys like that succeed for once.
7.0/10
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