Swingers (1996) ****

 

“Swingers” is a story about what it would be like to be a guy if guys were like chicks. By this, I mean, if guys were constantly complimenting each other and building up each other's confidence, constantly checking in with how their friends are doing emotionally. Watching the movie, you would naturally assume it was written by a woman, but, oddly enough, it's written by Jon Favreau, who also stars in the film.

Favreau plays Mike, a comedian struggling in L.A., desperately missing his old girlfriend back in New York. He obsesses night and day about this girl, following the advice of his friend Rob (Ron Livingston) to wait for her to call him. Meanwhile, his tall, confident friend Trent (Vince Vaughn) keeps taking Mike out to meet honeys, but it's no good. All Mike can do is mope about his ex-girl, but at least he does it to a background of glitzy, L.A. nightlife and boppin' music, including classic crooners and modern swing-bands.

“Swingers” is deservedly a cult classic. I re-watched it recently, and it is still hilarious. Favreau is a blazing ball of insecurity. In one iconic scene, he gets a girl's number, his friends congratulate him, and he is feeling pretty good about himself. His friends debate how many days he should wait to call her, but once he gets home that night, he gives in to temptation and calls her number, leaving a voice mail. Then he obsesses about how he sounded in the message, so he calls back and leaves a follow-up message, then another and another. As the situation deteriorates, Favreau is hilarious and painful to watch.

Meanwhile, Vince Vaughn is a revelation. This is the movie that launched his career, and you can see why. His fast-talking Trent is magnetic. It's basically the same motormouth he has played in every role since, but in 1996 it was fresh and original. He made lines like “Vegas, Baby, Vegas!” and “You're so money, and you don't even know it” into Gen X catchphrases.

On a budget of only $200,000, Jon Favreau created a truly special film, one that launched both his and Vince Vaughn's careers. If you can ignore the fact that it's a completely unrealistic depiction of male interaction, “Swingers” is a delightfully good time, full of good music and hilarious dialogue. “Vegas, Baby, Vegas!”

4 stars out of 5