American Loser

I have to be honest, I really wasn't expecting much out of this film, I mean, Stiffler in a serious role? but wow was I pleasantly surprised, pleased as punch I would almost say. A truly heartfelt film, you get the sense the writer/director genuinely felt for his subject, which from what I have read about this film is really based on a true story which makes it even more funny in my opinion. The stuff in this movie is so funny it could not have been made up! Really well done with the writing and directing and I think it was the writer/directors debut film? which to me is even more impressive. Some of the scenes had me rolling on the floor with laughter, all in all well worth seeing, great, original and heartfelt, I really look forward to seeing more from this writer/director and I heard a rumor he plays the banjo!

I saw this film at SIFF last night with my g/f and her mother.

I didn't research the film at all, just looked at the description and gave it a go. So when the opening credits said it was a true story, i thought it was a joke. It wasn't.

The movie itself moves along very well and the main character pushes the plot along with his "sharing" sessions in various 12-step meetings. He is ADD, alcoholic (recovering), has tourettes, and badly needs to be "liked". He can't keep a job and depends on his "Mommy" for emotional and financial support. Wholly self-absorbed, he is yet charming and innocent.

There is a love interest in the plot, but it really doesn't come off as one of those forced Hollywood sub-plots added for mass appeal. The male and female leads are impressive, as is the whole cast (many recognizable actors). Not predictable, and as I learned after the film... even the most ridiculous events were indeed factual.

I'd hate to compare this movie to anything, but I can't help but thinking of American Splendor (or Crumb). It's not quite as docu-drama as either of those two films, but the character (in real life and on screen) has very similar eccentricities.

Don't know if it will be released nationwide, but will definitely be in the DVD (ugh) cult film section of your video store one day.

When I first saw this movie on IMDb I taught that it is surely going to be a shallow comic-drama with a nice faced actor. It started in that way too. But when I first saw the way the movie was going I started to feel sorry for Jeff. It does get boring from time to time (that's one minus star) and as much you feel sorry for the guy he starts to annoy you (another one). The plot seems quite unique and it also is a very hard theme for a movie so the director and the writing staff did a very good job. On the other side it could be done better.

The final verdict is very positive. I must say that I have never seen Seann Williiam Scott in a similar role and he has proved that he is a very good actor he is definitely one of the pros of this movie. This movie gives you something to think about. I strongly recommend you watch it!

People should know, Movie was based off 2007 pithy/ cleaver but ultimately weak memoir Train Wreck, ( on Amazon reviewed by kirkus ect) writen by me Jeff Nichols,published by Simon and Shuster a top five publisher. The only reviewer that recognizes this it Variety cuz their prose. There a lot of funny stuff in memoir ( read free sample) , despite weak narrative; basically I over came very little to achieve nothing. Esp compared to... say Ray Charles who was blind, broke and black in the deep south in 1950, only to become a beloved national.icon. This was not me, for sure Movie left out special ED bording schools, that take up 30 percent of book, prepubescent gay sex; and massive drug abuse. The amount of drugs I did would have created problems in work force and obsticals to the establishment. As the film stands now, Jeff's obsticals are unknown ( not shown) so audience can't get behind protagonist and route for him. Just s bunch of sad scenes, burning the house down is a funny ass story, they made it essentially sad. The LA fires were Sad toput things into perspective, George burning down a country house was done on Seinfeld for christ sake. Executive director had a morbid streak that tempered movies ability to help others through humor. I'm a funny, mfler Google Jeff nichols comedian. I was Not the best stand up, but youl get the idea , and see the major miss. Formula: Bad book makes bad movie.

I did not believe that this movie is based on a true story till credits started to roll. Sean Scott, "stifler" from the American pie movies has been doing same old college humor based films for which he is been stereotyped into. But this is so him yet not so him. He has taken little of all the characters he plays in his film and made this wonderful character which although you find it funny at times, you start feeling sad, cause he just cant seem to get it right. He channels all his screw ups by sharing them with others making them laugh at them. A good change, yet not totally different, from Sean Scott. Keep up the good work "Stifler"!