A long, long, long time ago in 2007, a movie called Fanboys with a truly fantastic concept was first filmed, directed by Kyle Newman. Set in 1998, it tells the story of a group of diehard Star Wars fans who decide to travel across the country and break into George Lucas’ world-famous Skywalker Ranch to steal a copy of Episode 1 before it opens. This story occurs during a more innocent time, back when people were full of anticipation and awe for the next chapter in the Star Wars saga, back when we saw the early Jar Jar toys and thought he might be cool. Along the way, naturally, our ragtag band of geeks experience numerous comedic misadventures chock full of clever Star Wars in-jokes, references, and gags.
What might be most interesting about the story, however, is the characters’ motivation. Though the fact that these are obsessive fanboys who would do anything to see the most anticipated film of all time before anyone else is, of course, a factor, the main reason they have decided to go is that one among their group is terminally ill with cancer and most likely won’t otherwise live to see the big screen premiere. This thread had the potential to add some true emotional resonance to the film and make it not only a silly romp but a coming-of-age story with pathos and some depth.
And it may have, had the studio not begun tinkering with the original cut of the film. Fanboys was originally meant to open in August 2007, but The Weinstein Company seemed to be uncomfortable with the darker aspect of the film and wanted the cancer plot eliminated all together, even though it was originally the driving force (no pun intended) behind the gang’s road trip. They brought in a new director, Steven Brill, who filmed new scenes and recut the film into two versions–one with cancer, one without. Brill additionally added a slew of crude humor to pad out what was lost and consequently made the characters seem completely shallow and empty, impatient and impetuous, since their quest was the result of a simple, childish whim.
Though the former is, thankfully, the cut that was eventually released, in 2009 (a full two years after its original release date), it is still a version that was cobbled together by a new director who, additionally, seemed very dismissive of actual fanboys in interviews. The finished version of Fanboys is an uneasy mix that retains the original story and much of the film’s original cleverness plus a large dose of uncomfortably unfunny and rather clunky, obscene humor taken from the other cut. Watching the final cut, it certainly feels as if something is missing from the story, and that that something has been filled in with nastiness from someone who doesn’t actually like or grok the films’ characters.
This leads to a very odd viewing experience, because it is difficult to tell throughout, whether we, as viewers, are supposed to be laughing with or at these characters. This is most likely the result of the fact that, in any given scene, the directors had vastly opposing feelings regarding them. Unfortunately, since the negative director, Brill, is the one who last had his hands on the piece, a great deal of its intended heart is now missing. The character, Linus’, cancer, which may have been truly affecting in the original version, now seems rather empty and manipulative. His epiphany at the ending likewise seems unearned, since the majority of his character arc no longer exists, if it were indeed ever there to begin with. Meanwhile, we are left with the rest of the gang, who are, frankly, not very likable characters here.
Throughout, they actually are quite accurate depictions of fanboys. The major problem, however, is that this includes the negative aspects of the stereotypical fanboy in the form of sexism (borderline misogyny), and homophobia. This makes it difficult to root for the characters. I can’t say with any authority that the original version doesn’t demonstrate these aspects of the characters, because it very well might. The overall tone of the scenes in which this humor arises, however, seems to gel closer with what Brill seems to have brought to Fanboys, rather than Newman (such as the awkward scene in which the boys strip at a gay biker bar, in fear for their lives). And even if these traits did appear in the first version, it is fully possible that they were meant to be nuances that purposefully demonstrated the less attractive aspects of our heroes, in order to add perspective. As the film stands in its current form, however, it’s impossible to tell what we’re supposed to make of these people. It is very hard to know what to think of characters whose own story can’t seem to decide whether they are are underdog heroes or pathetic losers.
It’s pretty incredible that, even with all of these problems, Fanboys is still so watchable. The vast majority of the aforementioned Star Wars jokes and set pieces are very entertaining; the bigger a fan you are, the funnier they are, which implies that the film was initially supposed to celebrate, perhaps gently satirize, but not outright mock them. The film also features cameos from a number of notable Star Wars actors and one notable Star Trek actor. One of the Star Wars cameos is a total waste. The second seems to be underwhelming as well, until it is salvaged by a great moment at the end of the appearance. The Trek cameo is the best (the centerpiece of a mostly intelligent satire on the Trek vs Wars fan battles), which is certainly problematic for a Star Wars-themed film (and, oh yes, there’s a dreadfully unfunny cameo by Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes, but the less said about that, the better), but not enough to ruin the whole thing. Overall, there remains enough spirit and a vestige of what once made the concept seem so appealing that it is worth a look for Star Wars fans. Also, Kristen Bell is as awesome as ever here, and gets in a few good line deliveries during her woefully short amount of screen time.
This review may be as far as you can get from a ringing endorsement, but it is a pretty harmless ninety minutes and fully worth a late-night cable viewing, if not quite worth the price of a rental. Fanboys is a prime example of how studio interference can turn a screenplay with potential into a mess of a film. At the very least, it seems to have retained a modicum of its original charm, which is more than can be said of many other films. Fanboys won’t make you angry, but it certainly might cause you to wistfully shake your head and wonder what might have been. On the other hand, it might be a fitting fate for this film, since the same can be said for Star Wars: Episode 1.
Buy:
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