Loser is not what I expected. It’s not American Pie, it’s too sweet for all that, it’s the Scream of the teen comedy, it could be included in so many genres, a romantic comedy, gross out teen flick, coming of age tale and zero to hero story. No it’s not what I expected; I instantly thought that it would be American Pie 4. But it is probably better than that, but maybe a little less entertaining, I enjoyed it greatly, but couldn’t get rid of the thought that maybe it’s trying a little too hard.
Story
Paul Tennek, is a geeky teenager from the suburbs of America, he is out of fashion and has the strangest hair-cut you have seen in your life. Now he has a scholarship in New York the city that never sleeps.
Dora Diamond, is a stylish, punky school girl, who has to work at a dingy strip club to make her way, she is also embarking on a lustrous affair with her foreign literature teacher.
These two strangers meet in Professors Alcott’s literacy lesson, where Paul makes a rather embarrassing entry. Dora is the only person who is interested in his injury and the two sparks up a conversation.
Paul is made to share a room with Adam, Chris and Noah, who mercilessly lay into him, for studying too much and not concentrating on his social life more. These three seem to be endlessly lucky with members of the opposite sex, but for reasons that seem impossible to every body, not in the group.
Dora and Paul, meet up for the second time in the student eatery, sparking up conversation again. Paul casually lets it slip that he has a spare ticket
to her favorite bands first ever concert, and the two arrange to meet up and see the show.
As Dora was sacked from her stripper job, she is searching for a new one, whilst on the trip; she bumps into Adam who invites her to go to a party, until it is time for the date. She goes, and is offered juice, which she takes. After an hour, she starts to feel, really ill, losing track of all time.
Paul is left to watch the concert alone. When he comes back to his flat, he finds the ill Dora in his bathroom, he rushes her to hospital, where she gets her stomach pumped. On her insurance card she has wrote Professor Alcott, but he denies all knowledge of her, so Paul is forced to take her home.
She sleeps for days, but Paul being the nice guy he is, buys her flowers and writes a note from her secret lover, saying how much he misses and loves her. When she wakes the two have a brilliant time in New York, chatting, walking, sight seeing, sharing life and connecting. But she doesn’t seem to feel the same way he does. She still loves her professor.
Paul’s conniving friends find out about the relationship between the teacher and student and they use it to their own advantage.
Paul has to see Dora everyday, loving her, but keeping the dreadful antics of her boyfriend a secret because he couldn’t bear to see her upset. He is in the pits and her love is the only thing that can get him out.
Will the two friends become lovers? Or will her delusion over her boyfriend rule her heart?........................
Characters:
• Paul Tennek, s a king hearted teen, who doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. As we know from experience, this doesn’t make you cool, and cool Paul aint. I like the way that no matter what is happening around him, he always sees the good in people, this is a good trait in theory, but it opens you to the truth that everybody isn’t nice, some people go out of their way to hurt you, and you just have to separate yourselves from them. I like Paul; he isn’t trying to be anybody else but him. Just wish he’d do something with his hair!
• Dora Diamond, thinks that she is head strong and smart, but her actions don’t reflect her attitude, she is a kindred spirit, but also a hopeless romantic and she often lets her persona, drop down. For instance she puts up with everything that Mr. Alcott does, just because she feels that with him she actually has a shot at happiness. I like that trait in people. I like that people have faith in something, and she has faith in this relationship. But when she realizes that he maybe isn’t the great person she believed him to be, she is sensible enough, to do what she has to do.
• Professor Alcott is one of those people that just think that they can do whatever they like to people and everything will turn out fine. He never realizes the consequences of his actions, I can’t stand people that do something and say oh I didn’t realize that you would take it so offensively. No what you were looking for was a reaction and you got one. He is a teacher that seems to take much pride in his work, even though he will jeopardize it by being with a student.
Acting • Jason Biggs understands his character and adds an interesting twist to a rather conventional character. He grabs attention effortlessly, even if he is a little bit samey in every role. A fairly good performance from an alright actor, who as he is getting older, is choosing more varied roles.
• Mena Suvari is the real star of Loser; she is charming, sweet, strong and beautiful. She also explores her roles in many different directions. This is without a doubt the best performance of the piece.
• Greg Kinnear is always the same role, in As Good As It Gets, Loser, Nurse Betty and loads of other things e is good at it. He is comfortable with the camera around and plays the part well.
Other Cast: Dan Ackroy and Andy Dick.
Script Amy Heckerling seems to have a knack for knowing what teenagers are going through. She is unapologetic and frank, her best example of this is Fast Times at Ridgemont High. This sadly isn’t one of her best movies. It never really decided what it wants to be and the script is sadly, insufficient of laughs. Usually, were she really excels at is making teenagers see themselves in different lights to that of which they see themselves, but Loser isn’t really accessible, the only character that I think people could relate to is Dora, as she is confused broke and also very charming. The lines are pretty cheesy and the plot is just really daft, although it does serve its purpose in being slightly distracting and mildly amusing. It is fairly intresting, but more of a drama than a comedy.
Overall: A mildly entertaining but slightly confused teen flick. With good acting but a slightly stale script.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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Writer-director ofLoser, Amy Heckerling, has a way with teen comedies, fromFast Times at ... more
Ridgemont HightoClueless. She manages to take the clichés of life in school and spin them into cinematic gold. Part of her secret is that she genuinely seems to re...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
American Pie's Jason Biggs will win your heart as lovable loser Paul Tannek, a small-town ... more
guy just starting college in New York City. With little cash, no friends and three hard-partying, girl-chasing roommates who taunt him when they're not ignoring h...
Writer-director ofLoser, Amy Heckerling, has a way with teen comedies, fromFast Times at ... more
Ridgemont HightoClueless. She manages to take the clichés of life in school and spin them into cinematic gold. Part of her secret is that she genuinely seems to re...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
American Pie's Jason Biggs will win your heart as lovable loser Paul Tannek a small-town ... more
guy just starting college in New York City. With little cash no friends and three hard-partying girl-chasing roommates who taunt him when they're not ignoring h...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: Refreshingly well written. Good characters, good acting and very funny. Mena Suvari. Disadvantages: A touch too serious at times but that is also an advantage. Not exactly Shakespeare (but never trys to be)
bigkenny 29.05.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Loser (DVD)
![Loser [DVD] [2000]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78524245.jpg "Loser [DVD] [2000]")
Nov 27th, 2004
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