Review of Swingers (1996) by Sibling A — 29 Apr 2011

Before "Vegas Baby! Vegas!" and "You're so money" became the rallying credo of every 18-28 year old male in North America, Swingers was a sweet, funny, honest, charming cult film just waiting to be deemed "classic".

I remember when I first watched it. An acting school friend of a friend from New York was in town to visit and pulled it out of his duffle bag. We all sat around with some beers and didn't stop laughing for the duration. I was personally drawn in because, for one reason, it just seemed so small. It was really the first "Indy" film I truly noticed. This was in 1998 (2 years after the theatrical release) and revisiting it in 2011 (and virtually every year in between), it hasn't lost any of its charm or luster.

Mike (John Favreau) is our protagonist here. He is depressingly down on his luck since moving to Hollywood. He sacrificed his relationship back in New York. He can't find steady work. He's basically just wading through life's bullshit. Luckily, he is surrounded by wise friends who are looking out for him and trying to get him back in the game.

Best friend Trent (Vince Vaughn) is a smooth talking ladies man who thinks he knows it and has seen it all. In the legendary beginning of the film's dramatic arc, T takes Mikey to Vegas ("Always double down on 11") and to clubs ("this place is dead anyway") and to parties ("this place is dead anyway") but nothing seems to go right for Mikey. He's just not as good with the ladies as T is, as we find out in the hilarious trailer scene and the painful answering machine scene. He just can't catch a break is constantly reminded of it.

Luckily, his cousin Rob (Ron Livingston, who probably turns out the best performance here) has moved out to Hollywood. "Luckily" because he sees Mikey as a beacon of hope. This is due to the fact he moved to Hollywood because he thought Mikey had it so good. He constantly reminds him that it isn't all bad in Mikey's world. Also, comparatively, Rob is down on his luck as well. He can't get any roles (Goofy is his white whale) and can't catch any breaks either and it is Rob who eventually gets Mikey off of his ass and back in the game.

We see evidence of a New Mikey when he meets Lorraine (Heather Graham) at "The Derby". It is in this swinging scene that he finally gets his groove back. As the audience, it is a relief to witness. Mikey is able to converse like a normal human. He dances to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy like he was born to do it. And following receiving Lorraine's phone number, he withstands the urge to call her. He doesn't go after the bunny with big claws as per T's advice. The end result is a completely growds up and new Mikey.

Favreau's script is genuinely funny. Packed with witty one liners and memorable punchlines set up by conversation that is engaging and often times relateable. It is a sweet look at love and broken hearts from the male perspective; something we don't often see from Hollywood. There are video game references for the younger audience (a scene that was clearly referenced in Vaughn's The Break-Up) and whiskey references for the older and perhaps more refined audience ("...any glen...") and a little something for just about all of us males to relate too.

Director Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Fair Game) also displays proficient comedic chops as well. Subtle nuances throughout the film support the script perfectly. Talking on Mike's back swing in the golf scene. His perfect handling of the numerous awkward pauses throughout ("we all have out stories", "we're not in Kansas anymore") years before it was perfected by Merchant and Gervais. And the great scene with the blatant (for comedic purposes) rip off, with a tip of the cap mind you, to Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorcese.

I've watched Swingers a number of times over the years and it has aged just as well as any 30 year old Glenfiddich. I can always revisit it and enjoy it as I did all of those years ago and can still laugh hysterically at the various comedic moments that have stood the test of time. It spawned some Hollywood heavyweights in today's game, but it is always more fun to watch Swingers and remember when they were all small time.