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Looking back at FANBOYS

In this weeks Star Wars column Da'Mon Guy looks back at the 2009 geek comedy, Fanboys.


Every so often a film comes along that somehow slips by the eye of the general public. These films often go on to build a following, and are sometimes elevated to cult status, or become know as a cult classic.

Fanboys is one of those films.

These films often have hardcore followers who have become known by many names, Nerds, Geeks, and freaks. But the one that has truly become an moniker for lovers of everything geek is Fanboys, and this movie offers a light hearted take on the hardcore fans that follow the mythos of one of film's great franchises. Star Wars.


Debuting in 2009, Fanboys is a humorous, underrated comedy. A touching spoof about four friends and the one thing that unifies them, their undying love and insane devotion to the mythos of Star Wars. Fanboys features a talented cast, comprised of Dan Fogler, Jay Baruchel, Sam Huntington, Christopher Marquette, Danny MacBride and Kristen Bell, plus it features appearances by William Shatner, Christopher MacDonald, Seth Rogan, Danny Trejo, Kevin Smith, Carrie Fisher, Jason Mews, Craig Robinson, Ray Park, and Billy Dee Williams - so many guest stars it's like a who's who of fandom.

The movie revolves around the premiere of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, and how a group of friends are motivated to take action when they discover that one of them has developed terminal cancer. They decide to sneak onto Skywalker Ranch and steal a print of the film before it debuts in cinemas.

The best aspect of the maddening mayhem is the warm nature of the film. The message that is embedded in Fanboys speaks volumes about friendship and the bonds that can bind people to one another. The characters embrace this and come together for their friend, that in itself makes this movie a great watch and a wonderful depiction of how one should cherish life (although I'm not suggesting you should break into Skywalker Ranch!).

Despite the jovial nature of Fanboys, it is made to pay homage to the unwavering love that fans of many science fiction films and shows often have. Incorporated into the film are elements similar to Star Wars, including the opening titles, sound effects, and an extremely humorous parody of the classic Millenium Falcon light speed failure scene. Fanboys also makes fun of many areas of Star Wars, like the Jedi mind trick, Jar Jar Binks, and even the ongoing conflict between Star Wars fans and Trekkies.

As Fanboys is now seven years old many of the actors have gone on to become big stars, so watching this now is a real treat, seeing them before they took off. The cast are all great. Dan Fogeler is at his insane best as he leads in the mayhem, his terrific comedic portrayal of Hutch is one of his best roles ever. Seth Rogan has a dual role in the film and both characters are hilarious, and Craig Robinson, Danny McBride, and even William Shatner have great comedic cameos.

Fanboys is a geek film that has great mass appeal. The subject matter of the film probably scared away a lot of movie goers when it was first released, but even if you're not a 'fanboy' yourself this movie is still good comedic fun. It will, of course, be more enjoyable for fans of Star Wars, or anyone who has ever 'geeked out' over a franchise.

Fanboys is not only funny enough for everyone to enjoy but it is also truly the ultimate geek film.

Da’Mon is a writer and artist, a graduate of Coppin State University and an avid, life-long lover of film. Da'Mon has been actively writing movie reviews since 2011. Check out more of his work at Examiner.com, where he has published over 400 reviews. Visit his Blog and follow him on Twitter.

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