American Loser

I saw this film at SIFF last night with my g/f and her mother.

I didn't research the film at all, just looked at the description and gave it a go. So when the opening credits said it was a true story, i thought it was a joke. It wasn't.

The movie itself moves along very well and the main character pushes the plot along with his "sharing" sessions in various 12-step meetings. He is ADD, alcoholic (recovering), has tourettes, and badly needs to be "liked". He can't keep a job and depends on his "Mommy" for emotional and financial support. Wholly self-absorbed, he is yet charming and innocent.

There is a love interest in the plot, but it really doesn't come off as one of those forced Hollywood sub-plots added for mass appeal. The male and female leads are impressive, as is the whole cast (many recognizable actors). Not predictable, and as I learned after the film... even the most ridiculous events were indeed factual.

I'd hate to compare this movie to anything, but I can't help but thinking of American Splendor (or Crumb). It's not quite as docu-drama as either of those two films, but the character (in real life and on screen) has very similar eccentricities.

Don't know if it will be released nationwide, but will definitely be in the DVD (ugh) cult film section of your video store one day.

The story wasn't really straightforward (ie: it was a narrative of the character's screwed up life that didn't have a message or a lesson... at least not superficially), but the ride that you get to go on while watching it is really fun... especially because the actor is Seann William Scott, who (whom?) nobody expects anything good out of (b/c of all his mindless comedic roles), yet he totally owns the role... I was super happy to see the clips of the actual character (many apologies for not remembering his name, especially since he so fondly reminds me of the glorious negativity of Bill Hicks) during the credits.... That showed me the difference between the real person and SWS's portrayal, yet it it proved to me how well (do not read "accurately", only read "well", considering SWS is portraying the character dramatically, which almost always, as in this story, embellishes/exaggerates reality) SWS portrayed the character.

Who would have known that Seann William Scott could pull off such a fine performance in a dramatic film with a comedic overtone? When I purchased American Loser I assumed I was purchasing just another stereo-typical Seann William Scott comedy role. Much to my pleasant surprise I discovered (as will you if you watch this film) Seann was portraying a real life troubled young man named Jeff Nichols, who did in fact suffer from a number of abnormalities including an attention deficit disorder, early alcoholism, Tourette's syndrome, and a learning disorder. I assume the writers took liberties with some of the characters in the film such as the sweet and lovable married girlfriend named Lynn (played by Gretchen Mol) that Jeff Nichols hooks up with at one of his AAA sessions. Jeff also meets up with a guy named Lenny at the AAA sessions, played well by Jeff Garlin, who is a recovering alcoholic and construction manager. Lenny looks up to Jeff (from one loser to a bigger loser) and so they are seen periodically hanging out together having coffee and discussing how to get out of their individual predicaments.

Jeff Nichols had always depended upon his "mommy" Cynthia, played by Deirdre O'Connell and his stepfather Mike, played by Denis O'Hare, to bail him out with sufficient cash whenever he fell behind with any of his bills. He tried his hand at various jobs such as a substitute Grade 3 teacher but could not handle a class full of kids without getting in to trouble with the principal and losing his job. Jeff just seemed to be travelling through his depressed and troubled life falling further and further in to disarray. It won't take you very long to realize Seann William Scott's portrayal of Jeff Nichols isn't funny at all, and that's because it is not intended to be funny. This is a story of a young man with some serious troubles, real troubles, that even a loving girlfriend and parents can't help Jeff overcome. Of course there is some humor in the casualties Jeff causes as when he finishes having wonderful intercourse with his girlfriend Lynn, and leaves her a little memento on the bed sheets. There are numerous loser scenes that have some comedic value such as when he sinks his stepfather's expensive boat, or signs up for a month long job on a commercial fishing boat wearing nothing more than a Christmas sweater, or when he literally burns his parent's beautiful home down to the ground.

Although these aforementioned scenes may be somewhat funny, each scene brings us closer to realizing a great empathy for the real life Jeff Nichols, who actually lived through the movie ordeal. I do not want to give away the ending so I will close by saying that at some point Jeff realizes that he has to take responsibility for his own life and not depend upon mommy and daddy anymore. Don't stop the DVD at the end credits or you will miss the cameo appearance of the real life Jeff Nichols in his current job. This was a terrific dramatic real life role for Seann William Scott to sink his teeth in to. I truly enjoyed seeing him play out of character that as his usual dim witted comedic roles he has previously starred in. I was pleasantly surprised at how well Gretchen Mol and Seann William Scott carried this drama comedy through to fruition. I gave it a 7 out of 10 rating.

I have to be honest, I really wasn't expecting much out of this film, I mean, Stiffler in a serious role? but wow was I pleasantly surprised, pleased as punch I would almost say. A truly heartfelt film, you get the sense the writer/director genuinely felt for his subject, which from what I have read about this film is really based on a true story which makes it even more funny in my opinion. The stuff in this movie is so funny it could not have been made up! Really well done with the writing and directing and I think it was the writer/directors debut film? which to me is even more impressive. Some of the scenes had me rolling on the floor with laughter, all in all well worth seeing, great, original and heartfelt, I really look forward to seeing more from this writer/director and I heard a rumor he plays the banjo!

Whoever wrote this movie is the definition of "American Loser." Nothing whatsoever in this movie made sense. Not funny, dramatic, or entertaining. Watching paint dry would be more entertaining than having to sit through this nonsense.