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Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 32 Ratings

  • Starring: Heather Graham, Vince Vaughn
  • Summary: Set in the back streets and sometimes hidden clubs of Hollywood, Swingers is an ensemble comedy about five guys, all in their twenties, all coping with the mysteries of life and women. (Miramax Films)
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 25
  2. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. The beauty of Swingers lies in the irony of its title: Despite their lounge-lizard posing, these guys will never really live up to their Rat Pack dreams.
  2. Confident of its emotional effects, Swingers knows how to breathe life into its people, and hooking audiences is its reward.
  3. Reviewed by: Stephen Thompson
    80
    Swingers has something genuinely rare: a fine script and realistic characters.
  4. Reviewed by: Frank Lovece
    60
    The genial humor is occasionally marred by an overall sexist tone and some downright nasty homophobic and racist attempts at humor.

See all 25 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. SusanJ.
    10
    This is one of the funniest movies ever made. I recommend this to everyone because the movie is all that it tries to be and so much more. Very funny!
  2. Swingers is almost a perfect film. From the opening trip to Vegas to the final frame it achieves what it sets out to do which is tell a story of failing actors who are so naive they think they have what it takes to make it big. The main story is that of Jon Favreau's Mike, a heartbroken comedian/actor whose self esteem was so wrapped up in his relationship now that he is single he doesn't seem to have any. Not only is Favreau's character incredibly convincing, he is also the only real thing about Swingers, a film that points out everything fake about Hollywood. Mikes best friends are constantly showing their best sides while as a matter of fact who they really are isn't really worth knowing. However their terrible attempts at being seen as something serious is what brings most of the comedy to the film with Vince Vaughns Trent being a compulsive liar. Doug Liman finds a balance between the very honest, open story of Mike and the often hilarious lies that spew from Trent's mouth as they traverse Vegas and LA over a pretty 'mundane' week in Hollywood. The only problem with the film is that once the action leaves Vegas it takes 15 minutes for the film to find its groove again. Swingers works because it not only provides an ironic look at the kind of people living in Hollywood but it also provides so much heart and laughter that its hard to look away with an ending that is well worth it. Expand
  3. 8
    This is the first place I can remember seeing Vince Vaughn and since this is the only role I see him playing. Great interplay between stereotypical stud/loser friend. His loser friend stuggles to let go of his past girl and to find excitement in a new relationship ("What i'm supposed to be excited cuz' she's wearing a backpack?!" While Vaughn tries to prop him up ("Who's the big winner tonite? You, you're the big winner. Look at the big winner!"). Quotable lines abound. Expand
  4. A fun film that was made back when Vince Vaughn was actually charming and Jon Favreau was actually in movies. I miss those days!

See all 11 User Reviews