Reviewed by Johnny McNair

The Weinstein Company – 90 mins – 2008 – Rated PG-13 – 1080p Widescreen 1.78: 1 – Dolby Digital DTS-HD Master 5.1 Audio

Star Wars fans are a force of nature that cannot be stopped, and after 33 years since the original film was released, the fan base is expanding in numbers larger than the galactic empire. There are a zillion star wars fan films on You Tube, and many popular motion pictures and TV shows have paid homage to the films, but Fanboys is the first film to base an entire premise on the cult of Star Wars. Fanboys is finally available on Blu-ray from The Weinstein Company, so strap yourselves in and get ready to make the jump to light speed.

THE MOVIE

A long time ago, in a town not so far away…

Well actually it’s 1998, and there’s a six month countdown to the release of the most eagerly awaited film in the history of motion pictures, Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, the first Star Wars film to be seen by human eyes in fifteen years. Four friends who were die hard Star Wars fans as kids, Eric (Sam Huntington), Linus (Chris Marquette), Hutch (Dan Fogler), and Windows (Jay Barucel) are now in their twenties, but it seems as that only Eric has grown up and accepted responsibility. And because their has to be a girl tossed into the mix so one of them can fall for her, geeky dream girl Kristen Bell of Veronica Mars rounds up the central cast.

When Eric learns that Linus is terminally ill, he and the guys put away their past differences and unite to go in the ultimate road trip. They make an elaborate plan to break into George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch and see the rough cut of Episode 1, because the odds are not in favor of Linus still be around when the actual film will be released to the masses.

Despite the sad premise, the film tries very hard to be comedic throwing out every geeky reference you can imagine. If you’re a fan of Star Wars or any other sci-fi film or TV show related to pop culture, you’ll get the jokes. If you don’t like Star Wars or any of this stuff surrounding it, you will be clueless about what any of these characters are talking about. This film is made for a very specific audience, and all others need not apply.

Directed by Kyle Newman, who is a major Star Wars fan, this is his love letter to Lucas and the Star Wars universe. The problem with the film is that it’s not well thought out and the characters become more annoying than actually likeable. Yes, there are some good moments in the film, but instead of taking risk, the film plays it safe, when it should have come down hard on what a disappointed Episode 1 actually turned out to be.

There are cameos from two of the original Star Wars cast members, Carrie Fisher and Billy Dee Williams, as well as the ultimate symbol of anti-Star Wars, William “Captain James T. Kirk” Shatner. Geeks of current pop culture also make appearances to show their loyalty to the saga, such as Kevin Smith, Seth Rogen, and the ultimate nerd who created ‘Aint It Cool News ,’ Harry Knowles. It would have been the icing on the cake if George Lucas himself would have played a part in the film, but his presence is all over.

Fanboys is one of those films that you’ll either cherish for its geekness, or you’ll just wonder was this really necessary. Either way, just the nostalgia of thinking how hyped up fans were in 1998 waiting for Star Wars to return may be worth it for most. And the last line of the film sums it all up as the gang finally sits in the theater before the film starts and one turns to the other and says “Hey, what if it sucks?”

VIDEO

Fanboys comes to Blu-ray in full 1080p in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio, and it has an acceptable image, but nothing that will jump off the screen. Colors are well balanced and skin tones are good. Heavy grain becomes an issue in darker scenes, but overall this is a minor step up from the DVD.

AUDIO

Offering a Dolby Digital DTS-HD Master 5.1 mix, Fanboys sounds good without over-doing it. This is a dialogue heavy film, so forward speakers get most of the workout. But for fans there are plenty of Star Wars sounds, such as lightsabers, lasers, and off course the familiar beeps of the most famous droid in the universe.

EXTRAS

Fanboys actually offers a nice package of goodies on the single Blu-ray disc, so if you are a fan of this film you shouldn’t be disappointed.

Director Kyle Newman and Producer Mathew Perniciaro introduce the film and follow-up in other segments discussing the origins of the film and how the two meet and got it made.

The cast and crew (seems like twenty of people are in the room) provide an audio commentary track, but everyone seems to be talking over one another.

Six deleted scenes are available, but their mainly extensions to what was in the actual film.

‘4 Fanboys and 1 Fangirl’ has the primary cast members to talk about each of their characters and working together.

‘Disturbance in the Force ‘ is a series of the seven webisodes that hyped up the film.

‘Fanboys Goes Golbal’ looks at how the film became a cult phenomenon worldwide.

There’s also an Image Gallery and Digital Comic provides some fun pictures from the film and behind the scenes.

‘Star Wars Parallel’ has the actors talk about how each other their characters mirror the actual characters in the Star Wars universe.

BOTTOM LINE

Fanboys is just exactly what the title says, a movie for fans of not only Star Wars but everything in pop culture from the last twenty years. The Blu-ray offers decent image and sound quality, but it’s the bonus features that actually stand out more. Fans will buy this one with no questions asked, because they’ve already been overtaken by the Jedi mind trick.

SCORES: (Out of 5)

The Movie:    3.0
Video:        3.5
Sound:        3.5
Extras:        4.0

Bottom Line:    3.0