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All-Reviews.com Movie/Video Review
The New Guy
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 out of 4
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Starring: D.J. Qualls, Lyle Lovett
Director: Ed Decter
Rated: PG-13
RunTime: 90 Minutes
Release Date: May 2002
Genre: Comedy |
Review by Susan Granger
1 star out of 4
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What a waste of time and money! This rip-off of every teen movie
you've ever seen centers on Dizzy Gillespie Harrison (DJ Qualls). Known as Diz,
he's a nerdy senior at Texas' Rocky Creek High School. Between his father (Lyle
Lovett) and guidance counselor (Ileana Douglas), he somehow gets on
anti-psychotic medication - which leads to temporary incarceration with a
jailhouse guru named Luther (Eddie Griffin), who advises him to get expelled so
he can really learn the technique of being a dominant male, then go to a new
school and reinvent himself. And - sure enough - at East Highland High School as
"the new guy" with a prison record, he struts his stuff while refining the art
of intimidation and restraint. David Kendall's screenplay, directed by Ed
Decter, is pure drivel with one redeeming feature: once empowered in his new
venue, Diz - now known as Gil - revolutionizes the cruel social caste system,
gets the bullies to stop picking on the helpless dweebs, and encourages school
spirit. But at what price? And why would the sexy cheerleader babe (Eliza
Dushku) find him attractive? DJ Qualls swaggers appropriately; hey, he was once
a Calvin Klein model. And bikini-clad Eliza Dushku wiggles seductively, even
while riding a mechanical bull. There are quick glimpses of Gene Simmons of
Kiss, Tommy Lee of Motley Crue, Jerry O'Connell, David Hasselhoff and metalhead
poet Henry Rollins, along with Vanilla Ice, as a music store clerk, and Kool Mo
Dee, as a prison guard - but only Zooey Deschanel gives a truly credible
performance. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, "The New Guy" is a
dim-witted, disposable 3, delivering a loud, MTV-driven lesson that real friends
will like you no matter how many dumb mistakes you make.
Copyright © 2002 Susan Granger
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