Loser (2000)

2.5 out of 4

Starring: Jason Biggs, Mena Suvari, Greg Kinnear, Zak Orth, Thomas Sadoski, Jimmi Simpson, Dan Aykroyd

Director: Amy Heckerling

Time: 98 mins

Loser is wrongly marketed as a frat-boy comedy with lots of laughs and plenty of college hijinks. Yes, it stars Jason Biggs and Mena Suvari, both of whom were in last year's surprise sex comedy success, American Pie. And yes, it is directed by Amy Heckerling, renowned as the maker of critically acclaimed teen comedies Clueless (1995) and Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). But it's not so much a comedy as a sweet romance and character study, featuring sympathetic, endearing performances by the two leads. It is only let down by too many unsavoury characters and an ending that seems rushed, and hence, unsatisfactory. If you go in expecting a laugh a minute, you will certainly be disappointed. But if not, you might find yourself enjoying this entertaining little film.

Ultra-nice country boy Paul Tannek (Biggs) wins a scholarship to attend a New York City university. Unfortunately his roommates (Zak Orth, Thomas Sadoski, and Jimmi Simpson) don't like him and force him out of their dorm. After finding new accommodation at a veterinary practice, Paul becomes friends with Dora Diamond (Suvari), a struggling student in his literature class who just happens to be having an affair with the professor (Greg Kinnear). Paul soon finds life in the big smoke getting to him, having to deal with his overbearing former roommates, trying to romance the unsuspecting Dora, and passing his classes.

Loser is a surprisingly sincere portrayal of two individuals who are on different sides of the track. He's a country boy with country values - courteous, kind, and with strong morals - while she dresses in gothic style clothes and make-up and sleeps anywhere she can. Their romance develops slowly and warmly, though Heckerling seems to take the easy way out at the inevitable end. There are some funny moments in the film, but they're more of the fish-out-of-water variety than anything raunchy. The only sour notes are the roommates, who have few redeeming qualities and are always trying to use Paul's kindness for their own selfish motives, and the professor, who uses Dora in his own selfish way.

Biggs played the lovable dork to perfection in American Pie, and he repeats the dosage here. Noticeably slimmer, he brings the right amount of youthfulness, naivety, and humility to the role. Suvari shows her versatility yet again, adding another well-portrayed character to a list that includes the pretty singer in American Pie and the teenaged temptress in American Beauty. The actors playing the rommates are the usual boozing, drug-taking, girl-crazy types, and are pretty indistinguishable from similar characters in other teen comedies. Kinnear is OK as the vain professor, though he's not in the film very much. There are also some nice surprise cameos from the likes of Dan Aykroyd and Stephen Wright.

If one is superstitious, then Loser is probably not the name one would choose for this or any movie. It is not as funny as the trailer suggests, but the nicely developed relationship between the leads works well. As I said before, if you go in expecting laugh-a-minute comedy, American Pie-style, you will be disappointed. But if you like a warm romance, with a few smiles attached, Loser may just fit the bill.

(c) Joe Wong (20 August 2000)