Slackers film review

certificate_15

SLACKERS

If at first you don't succeed, cheat. That seems to be the mantra of Dewey Nicks's teen sex comedy, which wears its heart on its sleeve, but has its mind in the gutter.

It's an Animal House or Porky's for the new millennium complete with gross-out comedy and plenty of female eye candy. However, next to the likes of American Pie or Road Trip, Slackers is sadly lacking - both a loveable hero and originality.

Best pals Dave (Sawa), Jeff (Maronna), and Sam (Segel) have scammed their way through college, without having to do any homework. They orchestrate elaborate scams to steal exam answer sheets, so they can pass their mid terms with the least effort.

When resident geek Ethan (Schwartzman) uncovers the ruse, he blackmails one of the trio, Dave, into helping him win the affections of the most beautiful girl on campus, Angela (King). Dave is only too willing to help, to save his hide and his academic career, until he finds himself falling for Angela too.

As Ethan's patience begins to wear thin, Dave must choose between expulsion from college, or sacrificing the girl he loves.

The love triangle at the centre of Slackers in deeply unconvincing: Sawa and King share little screen chemistry, and there's little doubt which man will get the girl.

Sawa is exceedingly bland and displays little of the charisma of his breakout performance in Final Destination. Maronna and Segel are pleasantly goofy, and King is inoffensive to the eye. Schwartzman's deranged blackmailer is neither wicked enough to be a plausible villain, nor clever enough to succeed in his plans.

The screenplay does manage a few honest laughs, and an equal number of groans with the constant trickle of bad taste set-pieces.

Slackers is a half-baked and slightly stale American Pie.

Perhaps cheaters don't prosper after all.