TV director Danny Leiner's DUDE, WHERE'S MY CAR? tells an oft-told tale
about a couple of stoner dudes whose IQs match their age. Trying to find
something original, first-time writer Philip Stark's script includes a
transgendered lap dancer, space nerds and sexy extraterrestrials. In more
competent hands, the silly plot might have been developed into something
funny. PSYCHO BEACH PARTY, from earlier this year, had a similarly
ridiculous story which turned out much better. Even if DUDE, WHERE'S MY
CAR? would rate a zero on the Laugh-o-Meter, at least it is a fairly
good-spirited and colorful film that produces a few smiles.
A kitchen sink comedy, it throws in every gag that it can think of within
the bounds of a PG-13 rating. (Speaking of bounds, the PG-13 rating
apparently permits animals to smoke dope until they are wasted so long as
the animal is a dog and not a human.)
Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott play Jesse and Chester, a couple of
guys who got so stoned that they don't remember the previous night and where
they left their car. Going in search of the auto, they find that the house
of their twin girlfriends, Wanda (Jennifer Garner) and Wilma (Marla
Sokoloff), has been trashed by the party that they can't remember.
It is a shame that they can't recall the previous night since people keep
running into them to remind them about it. One is a buxom blonde, Christie
Boner (Kristy Swanson), who only dates hunks but who apparently made an
exception for them last night. She offers a free feel of her "ho-hos" to
rekindle their memory.
The real excitement begins when five self-described "hot chicks," show up to
offer Jesse and Chester sexual pleasure in exchange for something called the
"continuum transfunctioner." This is a device from outer space whose
"mystery is only exceeded by its power." Yes, you guessed, these chicks are
really aliens who are up to no good. In addition, some space nerds, who
make Trekkies look like rocket scientists, want the device so that they can
travel into space. The nerds wear "interstellar jumpsuits" made of ordinary
bubble wrap.
Although I haven't even touched on other subplots like the one involving
killer ostriches, you probably know more than enough to get a good sense of
the movie. This much can be said in its defense -- it is far from the worst
movie this year. It wouldn't even make the bottom 10. That may not exactly
be a recommendation, but it is the best that can be said. Well, I guess I
can think of one other -- I never considered walking out.
DUDE, WHERE'S MY CAR? runs a quick 1:23. It is rated PG-13 for language and
some sex and drug-related humor and would be acceptable for most teenagers.
Copyright © 2000 Steve Rhodes
out of 4
