SLACKERS

US, 2002, 86 minutes, Colour.
Devon Sawa, Jason Segel, Michael C. Maronna, Jason Schwartzman, James King, Leigh Taylor- Young.
Cameos: Cameron Diaz, Mamie Van Doren, Gina Gershon.
Directed by Dewey Nicks.

Slackers is a college comedy, tongue-in-cheek – but fairly crass in its presentation of characters and issues. It will probably be of interest only to those who would identify with the title.

Devon Sawa, Jason Segel and Michael C. Maronna are a group of three students who are about to graduate – but have spent the four years of their college studies cheating, lying and playing pranks on unsuspecting academics as well as passers-by. These pranks are meant to endear them to the audience – but probably will have the opposite effect.

The film has a certain complication with the character of Ethan, played by Jason Schwartzman, a geeky type, desperate to have a girlfriend. The Devon Sawa character gives him all the information on the glamorous student, played by Jaime King (credited here as James King).

However, Ethan turns out to be a double-dealing type with some malicious intent. Devon Sawa turns out to be the baddie-turned-goodie – naturally enough falling in love with the young lady and deciding that he has to change his life completely, somewhat to the dismay of his friends.

The film is very much in the vein of the type of slacker film made at this time – and gives a depressing overview of young Americans and their attitude towards life.