View source for Fanboys (film)

{{short description|2009 film by Kyle Newman}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Fanboys
| image          = Fanboys ver2.jpg
| alt            = A person wearing a Darth Vader mask and a plaid shirt<!-- see WP:ALT -->
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Kyle Newman]]
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Dana Brunetti]]
* [[Kevin Spacey]]
* Matthew Pernicaro
* Evan Astrowsky
}}
| screenplay     = {{Plainlist|
* [[Ernest Cline]]
* [[Adam F. Goldberg]]
}}
| story          = {{Plainlist|
* Ernest Cline
* Dan Pulick
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
*[[Jay Baruchel]]
* [[Dan Fogler]]
* [[Sam Huntington]]
* [[Christopher Marquette]]
* [[Kristen Bell]]
}}
| cinematography = [[Lukas Ettlin]]
| editing        = {{Plainlist|
* James Thomas
* Seth Flaum
}}
| music          = [[Mark Mothersbaugh]]
| studio         = {{Plainlist|
* [[Trigger Street Productions]]<ref name=afi>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/65886|title=''Fanboys'' (2009)|work=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]]|accessdate=March 19, 2023}}</ref>
* Coalition Film<ref name=afi/>
}}
| distributor    = [[The Weinstein Company]]<ref name=afi/>
| released       = {{Film date|2009|02|06}}
| runtime        = 90 minutes<ref name=afi/>
| country        = United States<ref name=afi/>
| language       = English
| budget         = 
| gross          = $960,828<ref>{{cite web| url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=fanboys.htm| title=Fanboys (2009)| publisher=Box Office Mojo| access-date=2010-08-13}}</ref>
}}

'''''Fanboys''''' is a 2009 American [[comedy film]] directed by [[Kyle Newman]], and starring [[Dan Fogler]], [[Jay Baruchel]], [[Sam Huntington]], [[Chris Marquette]], and [[Kristen Bell]]. The story follows a group of ''[[Star Wars]]'' fans who head on a road trip to [[Skywalker Ranch]] to steal a rough cut of ''[[Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace]]'' (1999) for their dying friend. [[The Weinstein Company]] released it in the United States on February 6, 2009.

[[Metacritic]] assessed the critical reception as "mixed".<ref name=mc/> [[Rotten Tomatoes]], another aggregator, said it received negative reviews and called it "undercooked [and] sporadically funny".<ref name=rt/>

==Plot==
<!-- Film plots should be between 400 and 700 words. -->
In 1998, Eric Bottler reunites with his old high school buddies Linus, Hutch, Windows, and Zoe at a Halloween party. Now a car salesman at his father's dealership, Bottler finds that his friends have not matured since high school, though they all still share a love of ''[[Star Wars]]''. The gang anticipates the latest film, ''[[Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace|Episode I: The Phantom Menace]]''. Linus proposes Bottler and he infiltrate [[Skywalker Ranch]] and steal a [[rough cut]] of the film, a childhood plan that Bottler dismisses.

The next day, Hutch and Windows meet Bottler at work and inform him that Linus is dying from cancer. The doctors estimate he has roughly four months to live; ''Episode I'' comes out in six. To make peace with his former best friend, Bottler decides to go through with their plan. On the way to meet Rogue Leader, Windows' online girlfriend, for information on getting into the Ranch, Hutch takes a detour to pick a fight with a [[Trekkie]], Admiral Seasholtz. When the boys' van breaks down, they stumble upon a gay biker bar. After refusing to pay for their drinks, they are forced to do a striptease. When this goes wrong, they are saved by a man named "The Chief", who fixes their van after they pass out from eating guacamole laced with [[peyote]]. He gives a bag of this to Linus as a parting gift.

In Texas, Windows is horrified to find Rogue Leader is a 10-year-old girl. Her uncle, [[Harry Knowles]], beats up Windows. After explaining their situation, Harry quizzes them to prove they are true fanboys, then gives them information on one of his contacts in [[Las Vegas]]. On their way there, they are arrested for fleeing from a police vehicle and for possession of peyote. Zoe arrives to bail them out and insists on accompanying them. Bottler is reluctant to continue when the judge relays an ultimatum from his father, but the others convince him of the importance of their quest. Once in Las Vegas, Hutch and Windows attempt to have sex with women while Bottler and Linus go to meet Harry's contact. They are shocked to find that his contact is [[William Shatner]]. As they leave, they are attacked by Seasholtz and his Trekkie friends, who were attending a ''[[Star Trek]]'' convention. Hutch and Windows flee an angry pimp after finding out that they were with [[Call girl|escort girls]], and Windows learns that Zoe is in love with him.

The group escapes their adversaries, but Linus is injured in the process. When taken to the hospital, a doctor says he must return home for the sake of his health. When the group feels the situation has become hopeless, Bottler inspires them to continue, reminding them how much ''Star Wars'' means to them. The group leaves the hospital and eventually arrive at Skywalker Ranch. Shortly after breaking into the ranch and marveling at the collection of original props and costumes, they are discovered by security guards and are caught after a brief chase. The Head of Security tells them of their impending doom when he receives a phone call from [[George Lucas]] himself. Lucas says he will drop all charges if they can prove to him that they are "[[Fan (person)|fanboys]]". The five are individually quizzed, including questions about the opposite sex that only Zoe can answer. After the Head of Security confirms they are fanboys, Lucas drops all charges. Being aware of Linus's illness, Lucas allows him to watch the film alone while his friends wait outside. After the film ends, Bottler joins his friends around a campfire and mends his friendship with Linus. Weeks later, Linus dies of his illness.

Bottler, Windows, and Zoe emerge from their tent while waiting in line for the premiere of ''Episode I''. Bottler has followed his and Linus's dream by becoming a comic book artist, Hutch has started his own [[Auto detailing|detailing business]], and Windows and Zoe are dating. Hutch arrives at the theater with beers he smuggled in, which they use to toast Linus's memory. Before the film starts, Bottler comments [[Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace#Reception|"What if the movie sucks?"]]

==Cast==
* [[Jay Baruchel]] as Windows
* [[Dan Fogler]] as Harold "Hutch" Hutchinson
* [[Sam Huntington]] as Eric Bottler
* [[Chris Marquette]] as Linus
* [[Kristen Bell]] as Zoe
* [[David Denman]] as Chaz
* [[Christopher McDonald]] as Big Chuck
* [[Billy Dee Williams]] as Judge Reinhold
* [[Danny Trejo]] as The Chief
* [[Allie Grant]] as Rogue Leader / Kimmy
* [[Ethan Suplee]] as [[Harry Knowles]]
* [[Seth Rogen]] as Admiral Seasholtz / Alien / Roach
* [[Isaac Kappy]] as Garfunkel<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2019/05/15/thor-actor-isaac-kappy-dies-after-jumping-off-arizona-bridge/3687012002/|title='Thor' actor Isaac Kappy dies in Arizona at age 42|last=Khalaj|first=Gabriella|date=May 15, 2019|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=May 4, 2020}}</ref>

There are numerous [[Cameo appearance|cameos]] related to ''Star Wars'' and other science-fiction/cult-hit films including [[Carrie Fisher]], [[Jason Mewes]], [[Kevin Smith]], [[Jaime King]], [[Danny McBride]], [[Ray Park]], [[Craig Robinson (actor)|Craig Robinson]], [[Joe Lo Truglio]], [[Lou Taylor Pucci]], [[Will Forte]] and [[William Shatner]].

==Production==

===Development===
After [[George Lucas]] was given an advance screening of the rough cut of the film, he enjoyed it and gave it his "stamp of approval", and even offered the original ''Star Wars'' sound effects for use in the film. Filmmaker and ''Star Wars'' fan [[Kevin Smith]] also viewed an early version of the film and asked for (and was given) a cameo in the film.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=41158&type=0 | title=Lucas Gives ''Fanboys'' F/X Help | access-date=2007-04-26 | last=White | first=Cindy | date=2007-04-19 | publisher=Scifi.com |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071023161644/http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=41158&type=0 |archive-date = October 23, 2007}}</ref>

The film was originally to be released on August 17, 2007 by [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]. The film was pushed back once more to January 2008 because director Kyle Newman was given more funding to shoot additional scenes that the original budget did not include. Getting the cast back together would only be possible in September 2007, thus the film's release date had to be moved to 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.theforce.net/latestnews/story/Fanboys_Pushed_Back_To_January_2008_105913.asp |title=Fanboys Pushed Back to January 2008 |access-date=2007-06-08 |first=Dustin |last=Roberts |date=2007-05-17 |publisher=theforce.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005003049/http://www.theforce.net/latestnews/story/Fanboys_Pushed_Back_To_January_2008_105913.asp |archive-date=2007-10-05 }}</ref>

The film was again pushed back because the reshoots could not take place before November and December 2007. These reshoots were directed by [[Steven Brill (filmmaker)|Steven Brill]] and not by Newman. On January 14, The CineManiac reported that the film was being re-edited to remove the cancer plot from the film and replace much of it with raunchy, vulgar humor.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://the-cinemaniac.blogspot.com/2008/01/quick-bits.html| title=Fanboys News — UPDATED!| publisher=The CineManiac| date=2008-01-14| access-date=2010-02-08}}</ref> [[Ain't It Cool News]] picked up the story and confirmed that the two different versions of the film (with and without the cancer subplot) were screened to different test audiences in [[Burbank, California]] in January 2008 to see which one would rate higher.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chris-marquette.com| title=The Skinny On Fanboys| date=2008-01-19| access-date=2010-02-08}}</ref> As for a new release date, Newman stated in a Movie Geeks United! interview that the film would hopefully come out in April 2008.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/moviegeeksunited/2008/01/06/fanboys| title=FANBOYS and ZODIAC| work=Movie Geeks United!| publisher=Blog Talk Radio| date=2008-01-06| access-date=2010-02-08}}</ref> Upon hearing about the changes being made to the film, an internet campaign was begun to protest the plot changes and demand that the original version with the cancer storyline be released in theaters.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://stopdarthweinstein.chris-marquette.com/| title=Stop Darth Weinstein| access-date=2010-02-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.aintitcool.com/talkback_display/35673?q=node/35673| title=The Most Dedicated FANBOYS have Targeted The Weinstein Company for crimes against FANBOYS!| first=Harry| last=Knowles| publisher=Ain't It Cool News| date=2008-01-20| access-date=2010-02-08| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220010057/http://www.aintitcool.com/talkback_display/35673?q=node%2F35673| archive-date=2008-12-20}}</ref>

Brill retaliated in a derogatory manner, calling fans "losers"<ref name=cinematical>{{cite web|url=http://www.cinematical.com/2008/03/26/the-fanboys-situation-gets-real-nasty// |title=The 'Fanboys' Situation Gets Real Nasty |work=Cinematical.com |date=March 26, 2008 |access-date=September 12, 2009}}</ref> in online correspondence which ended up released to the public. In one exchange, Brill called a fan "dumb" and threatened to "hunt him down" in a profanity-laden emailed response<ref name=cinematical/> to a letter of complaint. In an interview<ref name=suicidegirls>{{cite web|url=http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Kyle+Newman%3A+Fanboys/ |title=Kyle Newman: Fanboys |work=[[SuicideGirls]] |date=February 4, 2009 |access-date=February 4, 2009}}</ref> Newman chastised Brill's behavior, saying:

{{cquote|If you're going to go in and recut someone's film even though you're not even a fan of the subject matter, just because you want a paycheck, you're not passionate about it, then do that. But don't go opening your mouth and alienating the core audience of that movie. I just thought that was the most low class thing that you could do, especially considering there are so many people that worked years and years and years on this.<ref name=suicidegirls/>}}

A rough cut of the full film (that included the cancer storyline) was shown in public for the first time at ''Star Wars Celebration Europe'' on July 14, 2007.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://starwarsblog.starwars.com/index.php/2007/07/24/fanboys-signing-at-comic-con/| title=Fanboys Signing at Comic-Con| publisher=Official Star Wars Blog| date=2007-07-24| access-date=2010-02-08| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212120651/http://starwarsblog.starwars.com/index.php/2007/07/24/fanboys-signing-at-comic-con/| archive-date=2009-12-12| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTqY1vHT2Bc| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626061657/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTqY1vHT2Bc| archive-date=2014-06-26 | url-status=dead| title=Standing Ovation at Fanboys Rough Cut Screening| first=Ernest| last=Cline| website=[[YouTube]] | date=2008-01-21| access-date=2010-02-08}}</ref>

On July 9, 2008, Newman confirmed in a TheForce.net interview that the cancer plot would be included in the final cut of the film.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.theforce.net/podcast/story/ForceCast_July_11_2008_116022.asp| title=Force-Cast: July 11, 2008| publisher=TheForce.net| date=2008-07-11| access-date=2010-02-08}}</ref>

{{cquote|The motivation was stripped [out] of the movie so it was more like, 'Hey, we're drunk. You wanna go break into Skywalker ranch?' It ultimately didn't work and that's why it, I think, came back to us, the original team to at least restore it as much as we could in the time given."<ref name=suicidegirls/>}}

Newman was given just 36 hours to reassemble his film, and edit back in the key motivational cancer plotline.

The final cut of the film was screened on July 24, 2008 at [[San Diego Comic-Con]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.triggerstreet.com/gyrobase/TriggerDigest?oid=oid%3A1760218| title=Trigger Street Production FANBOYS To Finally Screen And Be Released| publisher=TigerStreet.com| date=2008-07-21| access-date=2010-02-08| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225091207/http://www.triggerstreet.com/gyrobase/TriggerDigest?oid=oid%3A1760218| archive-date=2009-02-25| url-status=dead}}</ref> It was announced there that ''Fanboys'' would be released to theaters on September 19, 2008,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.cinematical.com/2008/07/25/sdcc-update-cinematical-has-seen-fanboys/| title=SDCC Update: Cinematical Has Seen 'Fanboys'!| first=Erik| last=Davis| publisher=Cinematical| date=2008-07-25| access-date=2010-02-08}}</ref> but soon after, the official [[The Weinstein Company|Weinstein Company]] website announced that this had changed to November 26, 2008.<ref name="rldate">{{cite web| url=http://www.ernestcline.com/blog/2008/11/13/new-fanboys-poster-trailer-and-release-date/| title=New Fanboys Poster, Trailer, and (yet another) Release Date| first=Ernest| last=Cline| date=2008-11-13| access-date=2010-02-08}}</ref> The final release date was finally pushed to February 6, 2009.<ref name="rldate"/>

===Retrospective===
In a 2018 oral history of the film, members of the cast recalled feeling frustrated over the film's reshoots, as well as the behavior of producer [[Harvey Weinstein]] and reshoot director Steve Brill during filming. Cline and Newman noted several of the raunchier scenes written by Adam F. Goldberg at Weinstein's request remained in the final cut, including the scene at the gay bar, which Cline found homophobic even by the standards of when the film was released.<ref name="oralhistory">{{cite web |last1=Hoffman |first1=Jordan |title=The Oral History of 'Fanboys,' a Love Letter to 'Star Wars' Obliterated By the Dark Side of Hollywood |url=https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/oral-history-fanboys-harvey-weinstein |website=Thrillist |date=March 26, 2018 |access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref>

The cast and creatives voiced interest in making a sequel to ''Fanboys'', but Cline noted its attachment to Weinstein, Spacey, and Knowles (who had all since been accused of sexual assault) made this unlikely. Cline also expressed interest in a directors' cut of the film that reflected his and Newman's original vision.<ref name="oralhistory" />

On January 17, 2021 members of the Fanboys cast and crew had an online reunion-panel, as part of Dan Fogler's "Fogler's Fiction Fest" presented by Nerdbot. Director Kyle Newman, Jay Baruchel, Dan Fogler, Adam F. Goldberg, Chris Marquette and Sam Huntington were the ones present for the panel. During the event, cast and creatives once again expressed interest in a making a sequel.<ref>{{cite web|title= 2021 Fanboys reunion| website=[[YouTube]] | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz3hNHqv_qA&t=468s&ab_channel=Nerdbot |date=2021-01-17| access-date=2023-05-09}}</ref>

==Release==

===Theatrical run and box office===
''Fanboys'' was released on February 6, 2009 in eight US markets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theforce.net/latestnews/story/Contact_Weistein_Co_To_See_Fanboys_In_Your_City_120548.asp |title=Contact Weistein Co. To See Fanboys In Your City |first=Dustin |last=Roberts |publisher=TheForce.net |date=2009-01-23 |access-date=2010-02-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208101519/http://theforce.net/latestnews/story/Contact_Weistein_Co_To_See_Fanboys_In_Your_City_120548.asp |archive-date=2009-02-08 }}</ref> The film expanded into 10 more cities on February 20, 2009, including a special screening in [[Columbus, Ohio]] that day, followed by a Q&A session after the film with Kyle Newman, Ernie Cline, Matt Perniciaro and Kevin Mann.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.theforce.net/latestnews/story/Fanboys_Premiere_In_Columbus_OH_121213.asp| title=Fanboys Premiere In Columbus, OH| first=Mike| last=Barrick| publisher=TheForce.net| date=2009-02-18| access-date=2010-02-08}}</ref> According to Cline's pre-show speech, he wanted to hold a special screening with fans in his home state, since he grew up in nearby [[Ashland, Ohio]], and the story was set in a fictional town of Shandal, OH...similar to Ashland.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}}. (Shandal is an anagram of Ashland.)
The film expanded its release to seven more markets on February 27, 2009, to 13 more on March 13, 2009,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://starwarsblog.starwars.com/index.php/2009/03/12/fanboys-hits-more-theaters-march-13/| title=Fanboys Hits More Theaters: March 13| publisher=Official Star Wars Blog| date=2009-03-12| access-date=2010-02-08| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212112710/http://starwarsblog.starwars.com/index.php/2009/03/12/fanboys-hits-more-theaters-march-13/| archive-date=2009-12-12| url-status=dead}}</ref> and an additional 9 on March 20, 2009. On April 3, 2009, it was released in [[Canada|Canadian]] theaters.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://starwarsblog.starwars.com/index.php/2009/03/19/fanboys-in-9-new-cities-march-20/| title=Fanboys in 9 New Cities: March 20| publisher=Official Star Wars Blog| date=2009-03-19| access-date=2010-02-08| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117005410/http://starwarsblog.starwars.com/index.php/2009/03/19/fanboys-in-9-new-cities-march-20/| archive-date=2010-01-17| url-status=dead}}</ref> The film was also released on May 7, 2009 in [[Denmark]] and showed for approximately three weeks, it was released in [[Germany]] on July 30, 2009.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.filmstarts.de/kritiken/93105-Fanboys.html| title=Fanboys| language=de| publisher=Filmstarts.de| access-date=2010-02-08}}</ref>

===Home media===
The [[DVD]] was released on May 19, 2009, the day of the 10th anniversary of ''The Phantom Menace''. The DVD and Blu-ray were also released in [[Canada]] on June 2, 2009.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.theforce.net/latestnews/story/Fanboys_On_DVD_Details_122251.asp| title=Fanboys On DVD Details| first=Mike| last=Barrick| publisher=TheForce.net| date=2009-04-06| access-date=2010-02-08}}</ref>

The region 2 DVD was released on October 4, 2010.

==Critical reception==
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds an approval rating of 32% based on 97 reviews and an average rating of 4.8/10. The site's consensus reads, "This undercooked, sporadically funny road movie is a sop to ''Star Wars'' fanatics, but the uninitiated will find little to enjoy."<ref name=rt>{{cite web| url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fanboys/| title=Fanboys| publisher=Rotten Tomatoes| access-date=June 3, 2020}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a rating of 45 out of 100 based on 24 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref name=mc>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/fanboys|title = Fanboys| website=[[Metacritic]] }}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]] gave the film {{frac|1|1|2}} out of 4 stars, calling it "an amiable but disjointed film that identifies too closely with its heroes. Poking a little more fun at them would have been a great idea."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/fanboys-2009| title=Roger Ebert – Fanboys| first=Roger| last=Elbert| date=2009-02-04| access-date=2010-02-08| work=Chicago Sun-Times}}</ref> [[James Berardinelli]] gave it {{frac|2|1|2}} out of 4 stars, saying it was "mostly a middling road picture that doesn't do a lot more than any average, forgettable entry into the tired genre."<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_template.php?identifier=1469| title=Reelviews – Fanboys| first=James| last=Berardinelli| publisher=Reelviews| date=2009-02-03| access-date=2010-02-08}}</ref> [[Ben Lyons]] and [[Ben Mankiewicz]] of ''[[At the Movies (1986 TV program)|At the Movies]]'' recommended to "Skip It". Lyons said, "It was a great premise; it just unfortunately did not come together", and Mankiewicz commented that "it devolves into nothing more than a silly road trip movie."<ref>{{cite web| url=http://bventertainment.go.com/tv/buenavista/atm/reviews.html?sec=6&subsec=Fanboys| title=At the Movies – Fanboys| format=Video| access-date=2010-02-08}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of films set around Halloween]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0489049}}
* {{AllMovie title|352671}}
* {{mojo title|fanboys|Fanboys}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|fanboys|Fanboys}}
* {{Metacritic film|title=Fanboys}}

{{Kyle Newman}}
{{Star Wars}}
{{Star Wars prequel trilogy}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:2009 films]]
[[Category:2009 comedy films]]
[[Category:2000s adventure comedy films]]
[[Category:2000s comedy road movies]]
[[Category:American adventure comedy films]]
[[Category:American comedy road movies]]
[[Category:Films directed by Kyle Newman]]
[[Category:Films scored by Mark Mothersbaugh]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Ernest Cline]]
[[Category:Films about fandom]]
[[Category:Films set in 1998]]
[[Category:Films set in 1999]]
[[Category:Films set in Iowa]]
[[Category:Films set in California]]
[[Category:Films set in the Las Vegas Valley]]
[[Category:Films set in Ohio]]
[[Category:Films set in Texas]]
[[Category:Films shot in New Mexico]]
[[Category:Star Wars fandom]]
[[Category:The Weinstein Company films]]
[[Category:2009 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
[[Category:English-language adventure comedy films]]