LOSER

US, 2000, 98 minutes, Colour.
Jason Biggs, Mena Suvari, Zak Orth, Thomas Sadoski, Jimmi Simpson, Greg Kinnear, Dan Aykroyd, Colleen Camp, Andy Dick.
Directed by Amy Heckerling.

Amy Heckerling is noted for two teenage comedies, Fast Times at Ridgemont High in the 80s and the sly adapation of Jane Austen's Emma as Clueless in the 90s. Loser is in the same vein although the focus is on Jason Biggs as the underdog, the nice boy from the midwest on scholarship who is victimised by his rich and useless roommates. He befriends Mena Suvari (the girl from American Beauty) who is having an affair with their lecturer (a supersmug Greg Kinnear). Of course, it will all end up well, but it is the trials and tribulations and how our hero handles them which keep the interest - although it will be of more interest to teenage audiences.

1. A pleasing film? A pleasant central character? His adventures in the city, finding himself, realising the pretensions of others, and genuine love and affection?

2. The irony of the title, Paul and his character, at home, successful, the support of his father and the family, his treatment by the other students, his pratfalls, Prof Alcott and his disdain? But Paul’s conscientiousness, scholarship, his study, trying to be friendly, accepting the insults of his mates, his friendship with Dora, affection, love, helping her, at the pet centre, confronting Prof Alcott? Dora and her perceiving him to be genuine?

3. The contrast between the midwest, the home, the farm, the way of life and the University College, the idle students, their behaviour, their exploiting people?

4. Paul and his arrival, his cap, the room, meeting the roommates, their treatment, his trying to study with all the noise, buying the six pack, the meeting and his being ousted, finding accommodation at the pet centre, working with the animals? The parties, the drugs, his buying the substitutes and getting rid of the date rape drugs? Talking with Allcott about his scholarship and Alcott’s attitude to him and finally giving him a low mark to fail him? His good sense in changing his subjects?

5. His arriving in class, falling down the steps, sitting next to Dora, her helping him? Later meeting her, walking with her, talking, helping with jobs, invitation to the concert, her not arriving, discovering that she was drugged? His helping with jobs? The pizza and the video, and her going back to the professor? His confrontation with the Prof Alcott, thinking that Paul was in on the blackmail? His final confrontation, Alcott realising that? Dora coming to the centre, love, the kiss, a future?

6. Prof Alcott, snob, the relationship with Dora, a professor exploiting a student? Her moving in, his petty demands, finnickity? Dora herself, her age, flattered by Alcott, the sexual relationship, his talking down to her in class? The job, at the club, not getting enough money, the clients? Her being fired? Nowhere to stay, ringing her mother, getting the bag lady to pretend that it was the College? The job applications, her failures? The job and the ovaries for experimentation? Meeting with Paul, helping him in class, the friendship, his inviting her to the centre, the episode with the kittens? Her affection for Paul? The concert, the drugs, the hospital, Paul sending the flowers in Allcot’s name? His caring for her? Her going back to Alcott, even with his demands, her realising the truth? Leaving?

7. The character of the roommates, wealthy, no study, cheating, drink, practical jokes, the parties, the drugs? Paul and his confronting them? Their blackmailing Allcott?

8. The information before the final credits, Paul and Dora, the fate of the roommates, prison, overdoses and mental problems? Alcott and his being in jail?

9. The realism of the plot but seen from the perspective of good young man?