THE NEW GUY
US, 2002, 88 minutes, Colour.
D.J.Qualles Eliza Dushku, Zoe Deschanel, Eddie Griffin, Ross Patterson, Matt Goggin, Horacio Sanz, Tony Hawke, Geoffrey Lewis, Charlie O'Connell, Jerry O'Connell, Gene Simmons, Tommy Lee, Henry Rollins, Illeana Douglas, Kurt Fuller, Vanilla Ice, David Hasselhoff.
Directed by Ted Decter.
There is really no need to see this film. However, it is typical of teen comedies in the late 1990s, early 2000s. Many audiences enjoyed it at the time and later because of its parody of teen characters, teen ambitions, teens overreaching themselves in the midst of all the cliches of teen and school life.
Other audiences who did not like it at all called it “mindnumbing stupidity”.
The basic idea is a kind of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’s story, a scrawny put upon student, played by D.J.Qualles, who is close to a group of nerdy friends with a band at school, is continually humiliated, though supported by his father, Lyle Lovett. Included in the band is the young Zoe Deschanel.
With trouble at school, he reacts violently and finds himself in prison, under the tutelage of the eccentric Luther (Eddie Griffin) who coaches him with the magic eye which controls everyone he stares at. But, this enables him to transform into a new personality, tough, eyeing of the jocks, successful in fighting, imitating George the Scott as Patton, Mel Gibson as Braveheart, leading the College troops to support the football team which has never won in the past!
Of course, girls swoon and pursue him. But, like all moral fables, no matter how corny and nerdy, the Mr Hyde betrays his friends from his Dr Jekyll days…
However, he has to have a conversion experience and acknowledge his true self, apologise to everyone, run the risk of being exposed and ridiculed as a liar, but, ultimately triumphant as himself.
There are quite a lot of guest cameos during the film, including Gene Simmons as the Reverend conducting a Gospel choir, Geoffrey Lewis as a school principal, Kurt Fuller as a principal, and a final interview with David Hasselhoff.
This was back in 2002 – comparisons can be made with contemporary teen comedies. For the record.
