Movie Rec: Free Enterprise
I've never not been a Star Trek fan, but the new movie helped fan the flames a little, and reminded me of another movie I get a kick out of.
Free Enterprise is the story of two guys (one played by Eric McCormack of Will and Grace) who are huge science fiction/fantasy fans. They especially love Star Trek. So imagine their geeker joy when they meet and actually end up befriending William Shatner.
Here's a clip from the movie. It shows one of the guys as a kid, getting into a fight over wearing his Starfleet uniform to school.
While the Shatner in this clip is imaginary, Real!Shatner comes in a little later.
I like that the two guys go against the Trek-fan cliche. Both have good jobs (although one often forgets to pay the electric bills in favor of buying memorabilia). Neither one lives in their mother's basement. And they don't have trouble with the ladies. No, their problems have to do with not being able to have long-term, committed relationships. McCormack's character always ends up dating women who turn out to be so annoying he just has to break up with them. (And a psychologist would say he picked them for that very reason.) And the other guy actually breaks up with a hottie for bad-mouthing, among other things, Mr. Spock.
And then there's Bill. As it turns out, despite his fame, Shatner is actually very shy and awkward when it comes to women. (In the movie, anyway.) So the two guys take on the job of helping him out in that department.
One thing I like about Free Enterprise is that they don't make mean-spirited fun of Trek fans. Yes, they point out the sort of funny extremes some fans can go to. But it's done in a fond rather than insulting way.
If you are a Trek fan, you should definitely check out Free Enterprise. Even if you aren't a Trek fan, I bet you will enjoy it.
Free Enterprise is the story of two guys (one played by Eric McCormack of Will and Grace) who are huge science fiction/fantasy fans. They especially love Star Trek. So imagine their geeker joy when they meet and actually end up befriending William Shatner.
Here's a clip from the movie. It shows one of the guys as a kid, getting into a fight over wearing his Starfleet uniform to school.
Click to viewWhile the Shatner in this clip is imaginary, Real!Shatner comes in a little later.
I like that the two guys go against the Trek-fan cliche. Both have good jobs (although one often forgets to pay the electric bills in favor of buying memorabilia). Neither one lives in their mother's basement. And they don't have trouble with the ladies. No, their problems have to do with not being able to have long-term, committed relationships. McCormack's character always ends up dating women who turn out to be so annoying he just has to break up with them. (And a psychologist would say he picked them for that very reason.) And the other guy actually breaks up with a hottie for bad-mouthing, among other things, Mr. Spock.
And then there's Bill. As it turns out, despite his fame, Shatner is actually very shy and awkward when it comes to women. (In the movie, anyway.) So the two guys take on the job of helping him out in that department.
One thing I like about Free Enterprise is that they don't make mean-spirited fun of Trek fans. Yes, they point out the sort of funny extremes some fans can go to. But it's done in a fond rather than insulting way.
If you are a Trek fan, you should definitely check out Free Enterprise. Even if you aren't a Trek fan, I bet you will enjoy it.