Swingers (Special Wisdom Teeth Edition)

The relationship culture of contemporary times has changed greatly from the courteous, chivalrous courtings of early man. Back in the day, men would give gifts and offer sacrifices to the gods in exchange for the hand of a woman (or young girl) in marriage. This symbolized the great debt to which they owed the gods for the love of such a fine lady. Once the man owned the lady, he would entrust her with his estate. She became the housewife, the landlady, the keeper of the castle. Then when the man died, she would thrust herself onto the pyre and take her own life so that she could be with the man she loved, both in life and in death. Today's romance culture is all about getting it in. You go out to a bar and find the drunkest girl at the party and try to get some. If you're lucky, she brings a friend a long. For the dude or girl looking for something a little more longer lasting, you get their phone number and text them at odd hours of the night with phrases like "You up?" "Come over and say hi" "I'm so bored" "Maybe we should chill in a little". As I sit on my couch, generic store brand peas strapped to my balloon cheeks and apple sauce drizzling down the front of my shirt, I wonder what my wisdom teeth are doing right now? Are they happy now that they can live a life of freedom, maybe see the world, maybe catch a movie? Do they miss me? Is I a good mouth? How long does Vicodin last? Is it easy to obtain? But these are merely the questions of children. The real question is "How good is Swingers?" The answer, faithful plebeians, is money.
What can be said about Doug Lyman's Swingers? To say that it sparked a cult following is not enough. To say that it embodies the spirit of every young man trying to make it big is not enough. Swingers is a film about growth, redemption, and the power of a strong personality. Mike (Jon Favreau) and Trent (Vince Vaughn) are two 20 something unemployed actors trying to make it big in Los Angeles. Along with their friends Rob (Ron Livingston), Sue (Patrick Van Horn), and Charles (Alex Desert), the group chugs their way along the nightlife of L.A. in search of parties, "beautiful babies", and stardom. Mike is coming out of a difficult relationship and always brings his troubles with him to parties. This makes for some very funny moments including one scene in which he leaves twenty disturbing messages on a woman's answering machine. Filled with themes that strike at any rising star's heart, Swingers is a movie for the ages.
This movie is so exceptional because of its dialogue. The ways in which Trent tries to explain the female persona or the proper way in which to return a girl's phone call are mesmerizing. Vince Vaughn is perfect for this role and his future roles are clearly building of his role as Trent. Jon Favreau plays an excellent Mike. Mr. Favreau is an actor whose droopy, affected voice screams Mommy problems. He is a scarred man and he plays it nicely. (WHAT A GREAT FUCKING REVIEW SO FAR!)
But there is an oasis in the desert of despair and that is The Dresden. Located in L.A. on some fuckin street, The Dresden is the hangout for the group. After a night of rejection and piss, this is the one place the group can retire to and feel like royalty. Of course, it is full of old people, but that does not tarnish the feeling the group gets when they enter.
I love this movie because it ends on such a good note. The kind of note you get when you know that shit has been going on all day, but something happens and you just finally figure out it will end up good. It's that kind of note. Yeah, that kind of note. Well, I have totally forgotten what I'm writing about. Oh, yeah Swingers. Good movies, check it out. Really low budget film, but it's got a deep message. Keep your friends close, but keep your friends closer.