X
- 1996
- R
- Miramax
- 1 h 36 m
- 1996
- R
- Miramax
- 1 h 36 m
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)
Directed By: Doug Liman
Written By: Jon Favreau
- 1996
- R
- Miramax
- 1 h 36 m
- 1996
- R
- Miramax
- 1 h 36 m
Swingers
71
3.7
Where to Watch
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)
Directed By: Doug Liman
Written By: Jon Favreau
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 25 Critic Reviews
71
80% Positive
20 Reviews
20 Reviews
20% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 25 Critic Reviews
71
80% Positive
20 Reviews
20 Reviews
20% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
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.
User Score
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 92 User Ratings
3.7
36% Positive
33 Ratings
33 Ratings
12% Mixed
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
52% Negative
48 Ratings
48 Ratings
User Score
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 92 User Ratings
3.7
36% Positive
33 Ratings
33 Ratings
12% Mixed
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
52% Negative
48 Ratings
48 Ratings
Swingers is one of those movies that have a cool wised guy like the performance of Vince Vaughn gave to a character. This movie was great and great how it is.
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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.
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Hilarious.
Doesn't really add up to much -- except a good time. But it's smart, funny and cute. With all that going for you, who needs to be money? [25 October 1996, Friday, p.H]
Movies about the trajectory from outsider to insider in LA social and professional circles--the two always seem inextricably linked--are a dime a dozen, but this one is fresh, thanks to a script by lead actor Jon Favreau that lets us know Mike knows he resembles a character in a movie even if he doesn't know he is one.
The genial humor is occasionally marred by an overall sexist tone and some downright nasty homophobic and racist attempts at humor.
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.
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A funny and energetic film, Swingers is money, baby. With two 20 something guys on the look out for some babies, the film is a fast paced film loaded with great representations of male friendship. With Trent (Vince Vaughn) looking to cheer up his buddy Mikey (Jon Favreau) after the latter recently came to Los Angeles and got out of a six-year relationship, the film is one about bonding, love, and the single life of many men in their 20s. Depicting this friend group bouncing from party to bar to house to club and back again each next, Swingers is a bubbly film with money comedy that does know just how money it really is, but fortunately, that merely adds to its comedic charm.
While not uproariously funny at any point, Swingers contributes some solid jokes, largely through Vince Vaughn. With an energetic performance of an **** Vince Vaughn feels like a natural in the role **** who is the most popular man in the room wherever he goes. Unfortunately, he is also the saddest character. Unwilling to settle down and with a warped take on women, Trent is a man that may seem popular, but needs the parties and friends in order to not feel painfully alone. This is highlighted at the end when he assumes any girl is flirting with him and when he is drunk and hops on the diner table. He is bubbly and vivacious on the outside, but is no doubt alone and desperately seeking validation. This character is incredibly well-written and I happen to know a few people like this. They are the life of the parties and may go home some hot "baby", but are more alone than the rest of us.
As Mikey, Jon Favreau largely plays the audience surrogate into this world of debauchery and drunken fights. Heartbroken over the break-up with his girlfriend, Mikey cannot get over it and just floats with a melancholy attitude throughout the film. Favreau does a great job showing this heartbreak while also showing Mikey's ill-fated attempts to rejoin the dating scene. Feeling incredibly realistic with the neurotic and self-depreciating approach to dating again after having one's heartbroken, Favreau turns the character into a very entertaining comedic foil to the boisterous Vaughn. He also makes him incredibly sympathetic as, much like the women they meet in Vegas, you just want to give the poor guy a hug. That said, Swingers can be incredibly abrasive. The comedy is never incredibly clear and largely just comes through comedic lines or comedic representations of real life people. Every character in this film is authentic and is someone I have seen in real life, except they are dropped into the world of acting in Los Angeles. This adds some show business comedy to the film, but it is largely about some guys who are undoubtedly jerks and their attempts to try and get a woman to come home with them for the night. Thus, it will not be everybody's cup of tea and will put many people off, especially Trent.
Swingers is a pretty simple film, but it is enjoyable and easy to like if you go along with its occasionally obnoxious characters. If nothing else, it is a good portrayal of the pain one goes through after having their heart broken and the attempts to get back out there afterwards. Plus, it has a good performance in a good movie from Heather Graham, which is always a rarity. In this film, she honestly looks like a femme fatale from a noir film or a Hitchcock blonde, which makes me wish she had taken a role along those lines at some point. All the same, Swingers is a thinly plotted, but funny film with great turns from Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn.
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A fun film that was made back when Vince Vaughn was actually charming and Jon Favreau was actually in movies. I miss those days!
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Production Company
Doug Liman Productions,
Independent Pictures (II),
The Alfred Shay Company Inc.
Release Date Oct 18, 1996
Duration 1 h 36 m
Rating R
Tagline cocktails first. questions later.
Website
http://www.facebook.com/swingers
Awards
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
National Board of Review, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
MTV Movie + TV Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
