Becoming a Fan of Fanboys

At long last, it's finally here, the real premier of Fanboys, the DVD release. Sure, it may have actually seen some screen time in a couple of theatres here and there in the US when it was finally released a few months ago, but that was so limited as to be useless for anything except sowing a little more buzz on top of what was already flitting around a geek community that was fed up with waiting and, for most of us, forced to wait a while longer ultimately.

But the wait was worth it.

I rolled The Ol' Porkchop Express (okay, it's a Fit, not a semi, but if Hutch can outfit his old van like the Millenium Falcon, then I can dream too, can't I?) into the electronics hippodrome on the way home and bought a copy, and we spent the evening howling through the movie and its attendant special features. The plot concerns the adventures of a group of friends who in 1998 trek (sorry, really the wrong word to use in connection with this flick!) - er, who journey from Ohio to California with the goal of breaking into The Ranch to steal a rough cut of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace for their buddy to watch before he dies of cancer. Hilarity ensues (as a result of the adventures, that is, not the cancer). It's probably the best geeky insider joke-crammed road movie since Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back. The banter of the main characters is funny enough on its own and keeps the film moving quickly, but the cameos punch this thing into hyperspace. And, of course, there's the bonus at the end with Kristen Bell's choice of attire.

Whether you're a die-hard Star Wars fan looking to indulge in a tongue-in-cheek "love letter" (to use the phrase tossed around like a practice remote in the special features) to the saga, or just someone who enjoys SF and funny movies in general, Fanboys is definitely worth adding to your collection.