PROBABLY THE BEST GEEK MOVIE EVER MADE

A Video Review of "Free Enterprise"

Copyright 2003 Glenn Walker

This movie is so chockfull of geek cool if it had more cursing in it I would swear this was the work of the master Kevin Smith.

Free Enterprise is the story of a group of friends, who happen to be film geeks, comic geeks and Trekkies, approaching their mid-life crises. There also the added feature of William Shatner who apparently is making quite a career in films portraying himself. He’s very good at that and I’m only being 50% sarcastic.

Amongst offering his standard get-a-life advice and getting help for his own woman problems Shatner wants to do a rap musical version of "Julius Caesar." Don’t laugh. It’s funny but it’s true and it pays off. Wait for it. "No Tears for Caesar" by The Artist Formerly Known as Shatner is an experience that cannot be lived without.

The for the most part unknown cast also includes big name Eric McCormack whose role and performance here is so excellent and different from his work on "Will and Grace" that it’s a shame he’s been stereotyped there. Phil LaMarr is also in the film but as his geek work as the cartoon voices of superheroes Green Lantern and Static should cement it’s no surprise he took the part. Big surprise here is the return to work of "Too Close for Comfort" star Deborah Van Walkenberg who’s actually very good although decades older.

As I said this is a geek movie. It has references overflowing from its cleavage. I can’t imagine any ‘normal’ person walking in from the street and even understanding this masterpiece. Only a geek would get everything from "Star Trek," Logan’s Run and Basic Instinct to Fellini, scary 1980s new wave music and Mighty Isis action figures from Mego. It’s a geek’s paradise and it also has a good plot, good acting and is an altogether great movie. And only a geek could appreciate the wet dream-like fantasy of meeting a hot chick in a comics shop while fighting over a "Sandman" hardcover.

The only thing I didn’t like – the threesome – seems like it was put in just to say Ha! Geeks do have a sex life, and a full one for that matter. This is bothersome. As the geeks who made the movie and the geeks they made it for well know, everybody has sex, whether everybody else knows it or not. This seems a bit too much to press the point. Regardless I hated all two minutes of the threesome. And for all you perves with your finger on the pause button, it’s not even worth your time. It’s a plot point.

Do not miss the end credits. Extra points to the geek who gets every reference. They are the best credits this side of Airplane! and in some cases funnier than the film itself which is hilarious – don’t miss. I love this movie.

Rating: *****

***** Must see
**** Worth seeing
*** So you have eight dollars you want to throw away…
** Is Adam Sandler in this mess?
* A bullet would be quicker.