Get Your Geek On

Fanboys is much funnier than its long, strange trip would lead you to believe.
-By Barbara Rice Thompson

Fanboys
The Plot: Back in 1998, a group of friends road-trips from Ohio to George Lucas’s Bay Area Skywalker Ranch to steal an early print of The Phantom Menace. Fanboys was originally slated for release in 2007 but was held by the studio, recut to meet Harvey Weinstein’s edict that references to one character’s terminal illness be removed, then cut again with the cancer plotline restored, apparently in response to fans’ complaints. Additional footage was also shot in late 2007 by a second director. The movie finally hit theaters this past February in limited release, and now it’s heading to DVD. But don’t let that deter you. It’s much funnier than its checkered past would lead you to believe. (Well, unless you’re offended by homophobic jokes.) If you have buddies who are really into Star Wars or Star Trek (or are part of any sci-fi fandom, really), gather them for a viewing. If they don’t recognize themselves, they have absolutely no sense of humor. The cast is full of TV vets and some brilliant cameos, and the luscious Kirsten Bell (Veronica Mars and Heroes) is every geek’s dream girl brought to life. She is, indeed, a cross between Sarah Michelle Gellar and Janeane Garofalo.

Buy or Rent? Rent. It’s worth watching, but only the most rabid fanboys will feel the need to own it.

Added Value? Commentary, deleted scenes, a handful of making-of featurettes, and webisodes.