Fanboys is a film that was a long time coming. Plagued by studio interference throughout its production, the flick took several years to see that silvery light of the big screen.
Fanboys is Kyle Newman’s love letter to Star Wars fans. With enough references to the saga to fill a space cruiser and peppered with a vast array of cameos, the flick is a more than enjoyable watch.
The year is 1998 and after a falling out after high school, four friends are reunited for a common mission: trek to Skywalker Ranch, break in and steal a copy of The Phantom Menace. Lending a sense of urgency is the revelation that Linus (Christopher Marquette) has cancer and has less than four months left. His trio of friends Hutch (Dan Fogler), Windows (Jay Baruchel) and Eric (Sam Huntington) realize that their friend won’t be around to see the premiere of Menace. They must take action.
Using a map Linus concocted in fifth grade, they load up in Hutch’s van, the most geeked-out ride in all the cosmos, and the journey begins.
Along the way they have they have run-ins with Trekkies, or Trekkers for the politically corrects folks, a hallucinogenic campfire powwow and an incident with police that brings Zoe (Kristen Bell) into the fold.
Reaching their destination, the five friends are caught after seeing just the start of the opening crawl. George Lucas, who unfortunately doesn’t make a cameo, learns of the meaning behind the attempted theft and allows Linus to view the film.
On the journey back to Ohio, Eric attempts to make peace with Linus, to which he informs Eric that the journey had nothing to do with the film, it was about the four friends reconnecting for one last hurrah.
The film has numerous cameos including Billy Dee Williams, Carrie Fisher, Ray Park, Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes and Captain James T. Kirk himself, William Shatner.
Newman delivers a treasure to Star Wars fans everywhere and Fogler is a performer to keep an eye on.
The disk has the standard deleted scenes and featurettes, but the commentary track is what is a must. Newman and members of the cast and crew talk about the struggles the production went through and give insight into why they feel the film had to be made.
An added bonus for Star Wars fans is an additional commentary they can download from iTunes. It features Newman and the dynamic duo of Jason and Jimmy Mac of the immensely popular podcast The Force-Cast.
If you don’t check this film out, well, you’re a scruffy looking nerf herder
Movie: 4 Yaps
Extras: 3.5 Yaps