Review of Swingers (2009) by Jonathan B — 17 Jan 2012

Before Doug Liman turned to action films like The Bourne Identity (2002), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) and Jumper (2008), he made small little comedies like this one. It's a very slight, amusing film, written by actor Jon Favreau, (before he turned to directing films like Iron Man (2008) and Cowboys and Aliens (2011)), this is a product of it's time.

Mike Peters (Favreau) is a struggling comedian from New York who moved to Los Angeles to try his luck at the big time, he's just broken up with his girlfriend and is pining for her. Thankfully, his friend Trent (Vince Vaughn) is on hand to help out, they go to Las Vegas for a night out, but Mike constantly pining for his girlfriend spoils the trip, and when Mike and Trent get back to LA, they find themselves hanging out in clubs and coffee shops with Rob (Ron Livingston), Charles (Alex Desert) and Sue (Patrick Van Horn), and they try to get Mike out of his rut and move on with another woman, who after much trial and error, Mike eventually finds in Lorraine (Heather Graham), who seems to be the perfect match for Mike, but then his ex wants to get back with Mike, (we never see her.

) This film seems a little dated even now, but it helped start the career of it's director, and those of Favreau and Vaughn, who all went on to greater things. But, it does have it's moments, it's complimented with a good swing soundtrack and referential humour.