Dude, Where's My Car? A film review by Pete Croatto Copyright 2000 filmcritic.com filmcritic.com
I really wanted to like Dude, Where's My Car? After a week of deadlines, dead time, and dead emotions, I needed a goofy movie to revive me.
So, imagine my horror as I sat alone in the cavernous theater, trying to muster a chuckle or a titter. Ornery ostriches didn't do the trick. Neither did a transsexual stripper, a pot-smoking dog or an appearance by Fabio.
There is a place for movies like Dude, Where's My Car? -- National Lampoon's Animal House, Blazing Saddles, Tommy Boy, etc. When they work. And when that happens, I'm on a cinematic high for weeks. I still smile whenever I hear the phrase "double secret probation." In the case of the silly comedies that fail, it's like watching a guy slip on a banana peel. It might be funny the first time, but how about the fiftieth time?
Unfortunately, Dude has crates full of bananas, and it's ultimately doomed -- just like its two main characters, Jesse and Chester (Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott, respectively), doper roommates with a major problem. After a wild night of partying with Chester, Jesse can't find his car the next day. The two friends don't even have a clue as to what happened the night before.
The boys soon embark on a madcap adventure to find Jesse's car. In their odyssey, they gradually learn about last night's events, which included strippers, buff aliens, and tattoos. Jesse and Chester also discover that they are now responsible for the fate of the universe. Bummer.
I know a movie like Dude is geared for brainless laughs, but shouldn't some thought have been invested in making it? The movie survives solely on the aforementioned wacky antics, which turns Dude into a feat of endurance that would fatigue a marathon runner.
There's no break from the goofball proceedings. Screenwriter Philip Stark and director Danny Leiner don't give us a single character with any wit or subtlety. Watching Dude is like viewing a parade of the hackneyed characters of movies past. There are stoned morons, sympathetic girlfriends, bullying jocks, super-intense space nerds, and the soulful black pizza owner (from The Last Dragon, of course).
As for Jesse and Chester, they might be the first characters in movie history without a working cerebrum. It would have been funnier if these guys were smart, so they could sarcastically comment on their absurd situation. But Scott and Kutcher are given little more to do than say "shibby" and "sweet" in a frat-boy cadence... and then break things. And that's a shame, because I like both of these guys. Kutcher is a dopey highlight on the Fox sitcom That '70s Show, and Scott with his prankster grin was a big reason why American Pie was my favorite movie last year. In Dude, their scenes induce empathetic winces, instead of laughs.
I wish I could say something glowing about this mess, and I wish I had an idea of why people are seeing it. My guess is it's either an indication that 2000 was truly a terrible year for movies, or it could be a genuine sign of the apocalypse.
RATING: * [LOWEST RATING]
***** Perfection
**** Good, memorable film
*** Average, hits and misses
** Sub-par on many levels
* Unquestionably awful
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Danny Leiner Producer: Broderick Johnson, Andrew A. Kosove, Nancy Paloian-Breznikar, Wayne Allan Rice Writer: Philip Stark Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Seann William Scott, Kristy Swanson, Jennifer Garner, Marla Sokoloff, Charlie O'Connell, Hal Sparks
Official web site: http://www.dudewheresmycar.com/
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=filmcriticcom&path=subst/video/sellers/amazon-top-100-dvd.html Movie Fiends: Check out Amazon.com's Top 100 Hot DVDs!
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