TRAINWRECK, MY LIFE AS AN IDOIT/AMERICAN LOSER

US, 2007, 94 minutes, Colour.
Seann William Scott, Gretchen Mol, Deirdre O' Connell, Kevin Conway, Jeff Garlin, Denis O' Hare.
Directed by Tod Harrison Williams.

Trainwreck is an effective star vehicle for Seann William Scott, best known for playing slackers, especially Stiffler in the American Pie series. He plays Jeff Nichols, a man who has quite a number of personality difficulties including attention deficit syndrome, dyslexia, two reds Syndrome, lack of physical balance, alcoholic.

While there are flashbacks to explain Jeff’s condition as well as his dependence on his mother and the support of his stepfather, most of the action is in the present, Jeff recounting his stories to a variety of groups. Is also an ex-alcoholic, but has been dry for 10 years, even serving as a mentor for his friend, Lenny. Present at many of the meetings is Lynn, who involves him in a sexual relationship even though she is engaged to a wealthy, older man.

Jeff remembers his past and the various wrecks in his life. And, in the present, he has an episode where he goes for a month-long voyage with fishermen but wants to throw the fish back. He has ambitions to work as a stand-up comic. And then he burns his mother’s house down.

Nevertheless, he survives and is seen at the end doing the stand-up comedy, as well as writing a book.

1. The title, its tone? The original book been called The Little Yellow Bus?

2. The film based on a true story, the glimpses of Jeff Nichols at the end with stand-up comedy? The final optimistic hope?

3. The focus on Jeff, Seann William Scott’s performance and screen presence? His narrative, at all the AA meetings, his sharing his story with the group, focusing on the audience? Finally finding some humour in his story, especially the burning down the house, for his comic career?

4. His memories of his childhood, his dependence on his ‘mummy’, her loving him, the scene with the catching of the fish and throwing it back, fishing as peaceful for him? His mother marrying Mike? Mike and his providing the house, writing the cheques, his being a good stepfather?

5. Jeff as an alcoholic, dry for 10 years, the flashbacks to his drinking, sinking his stepfather’s ship and coming ashore with the cans, his driving and his drinking? Going to the AA meetings, stopping drinking? The angry outburst at the AA meeting and his leaving?

6. His mental difficulties, the touch of Tourette’s Syndrome, his lack of balance (and his falling over when seeing the label on the runners), dyslexia, inability to read? His dealing with these, sometimes well, sometimes fatally, for example, his lack of control in the classroom, the discussions with the principal and his being fired? His inability to hold a job?

7. The fishing trip and his inabilities and throwing the fish back?

8. His friendship with Lenny, Lenny and his drinking, giving it up, being a mentor, Lenny dependent on him, wanting to keep contact, Jeff ousted from his quarters, (clapping during the night with his nightmares, not paying the rent), going to stay with Lenny, upper bunk, the conversations? The two wandering the streets, seeing the Comedy Club, Lenny and his memories of karaoke but fearing that he would want to drink? Lenny and his observations about Lynn? Lenny and the karaoke and his success?

9. Lynn, at the meetings, knitting, approaching Jeff, taking him home, the sexual encounter, the truth about her sugar-daddy, his being away? Her singing and her wanting to be a singer? Continually meeting with Jeff, their talking, going to her apartment, each of them in love, but the problem of Terry? Her pregnancy, not knowing who was the father? Not wanting to go on the boat, going fishing on the wharf – the final caption saying that the relationship did not work out?

10. Jeff and his dependence on his mother, her being good to him, kind of smother-love? Mike, a good man, helping Jeff?

11. His going to the house, the heater, the electric wiring, the house burning down, his owning up so that the electrician would not be blamed? Mike and his accepting of the reality, giving him the key to sit in the car?

12. Telling the story of the house burning down, everybody laughing, the transition to the Comedy Club, his mother and Mike being there and supporting him?

13. Jeff’s life as something of a train wreck, but not always an American Loser?