Almost every description of the independent film “Is It Just Me?” labels it a gay romantic comedy. However, the movie’s creator, J.C. Calciano, and lead actor, Nicholas Downs, believe the sexuality of the film’s love interest is inconsequential to the story’s essence.

“I wasn’t trying to make a gay romantic comedy, I made a romantic comedy for guys,” Calciano says. “Most gay films are for a gay audience or a specific community. I wanted to make a universal film with a universal story.”

In the film, Downs, who is from Bondurant, Iowa, plays the role of Blaine – an insecure hopeless romantic. Blaine meets a great guy in an online chat room, and eventually they set up a rendezvous. Unfortunately, the dream date plans unravel when Blaine realizes that he has been chatting with his new love interest while using his roommate’s online profile, complete with picture of the buff go-go dancer. The movie follows Blaine as he tries to navigate this tricky situation.

 For Downs, the difficulty of playing the role came from trying to show Blaine’s introverted and fearful personality while remaining a likable character.

“The biggest challenge was finding a balance between playing the character truthfully and honestly, without becoming too annoying,” says Downs. “I didn’t want it to get to the point where people wanted to strangle me and not feel any sympathy for me.”

Calciano agreed that finding this happy medium with Blaine’s character was crucial to the film’s success.

“One of the challenges with the role was to make Blaine insecure and frustrating to watch, but also make him lovable, identifiable, sweet, cute and romantic,” says Calciano. “What (Nicholas) did so well, was that he was able to play all those layers. Some times you want to shake him, but other times you want to hug him and think that he’s the cutest little thing you ever saw.”

What made the role even more challenging is that it is almost a complete departure from Downs’ own personality – a fact that Calciano was surprised to learn.

“[Downs] instantly caught my eye as the perfect person to play the role,” explained Calciano. “I was curious to find out who he was as a person because it seemed like I had found the exact character who was written for the movie. I wanted to see if that was really him, or if he was just a great actor. Ironically, he’s very dissimilar from the part. He really just turned out to be a great actor.”

— MICHAEL

SNEAK PEEK

SEE IT: “Is It Just Me?” will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Friday (Aug. 27) at the Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., during the Landlocked Film Festival. Tickets are $5.

PARTY WITH THE JC and NICHOLAS: After-party @ Studio 13, 13 S. Linn St., Iowa City. A ticket stub from the screening is all you need to get in for free and take advantage of discounted drinks.

DATING TIPS from THE CAST

COMING
Furry Vengeance
Brendan Fraser plays a real estate developer who wants to build a new housing subdivision in the Oregon wilderness. The protesters, this time, are local woodland creatures. –>

Nightmare on Elm Street
A remake of the horror movie with bad guy Freddy Krueger, a serial-killer who wields a glove with four blades embedded in the fingers and kills people in their dreams.

ALREADY HERE
The Back Up Plan
Jennifer Lopez plays a Manhattan pet shop owner who is artificially inseminated and, wouldn’t you know, meets the perfect guy that same day.

Clash of the Titans
Mortals in revolt against the gods and battling terrifying lobster-monsters, the snake-haired Medusa and the dreaded Kraken. Sam Worthington as the buzz-cut, stubble-chinned hero Perseus in a land of bearded warriors, Liam Neeson as Zeus, Ralph Fiennes as Hades and Alexa Davalos as Andromeda.

Date Night
Steve Carell and Tina Fey play a perfectly nice married couple from New Jersey who simply want to have a great night out together in Manhattan. Mistaken for another couple, they’re spun into a nightmare involving a mob boss and an unpaid debt.

Death at a Funeral
A big family home is the setting for a funeral that’s just one damn thing after another with a big family secret revealed. All-star cast includes Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, James Marsden, Peter Dinklage, Loretta Devine, Regina Hall, Zoe Saldana, Tracy Morgan, Luke Wilson.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Zachary Gordon stars as the uncertain new kid in middle school and Robert Capron is his pudgy best pal, who still acts like a kid. Chloe Moretz is the only student who’s nice to them. Based on the books by Jeff Kinney.

Hot Tub Time Machine
A raunchy guy comedy where three buddies and a nephew
fall into a magical hot tub and are transported in time to the scene of their legendary bacchanal at a 1980s ski lodge.
Starring Rob Corddry, from “The Daily Show,” John Cusack,  Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Crispin Glover and Chevy Chase as the hot tub repairman.

Kick-ass
An 11-year-old girl (Chloe Grace Moretz), her father (Nicolas Cage) and a high school kid (Aaron Johnson) try to become superheroes to fight an evil ganglord.

The Losers
Five U.S. military guys rescue some kids during a raid on a Bolivian drug lord, only to see the kids’ helicopter shot down by a strike intended for the guys. Disgusted, they rip off their dog tags and seek vengeance against the mysterious arms dealer.

K=one guy                          E=other guy                       S=the girl

E:  Disney has a hit on their hands going into blockbuster season with Alice in Wonderland.  With its 3^rd #1 week behind it, S, K and I share our thoughts on this magical, mystery tour through the looking glass.

K:  When I first saw the Alice in Wonderland trailer I knew this was one of the early 2010 movies I wanted to see.   Alice in Wonderland is a Disney remake/retooling/retelling of their classic 1951 animated film.

E:  The setup is simple:  Alice, now older, flees from an engagement party (hers) and falls down a rabbit hole.  However, this Wonderland (or Underland in the film) is both vaguely familiar and strangely foreign to her.

S:  The colors and hues of the entire movie communicate the differences and similarities of Underland. 

K:  The new hooks are a big name star in Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter and Tim Burton bring his style and directing in digital 3-D.

S:  Especially when seeing it in 3-D, the use of color was impressive given that Mr. Burton usually uses little color in his films.

E:  Disney has done two things very well.  One, they created a solid storyline for a story where the main character just wanders around and meets unusual characters (that’s been the problem with past Alice movies).  Second, they’ve got a very “you go girl” theme that I think is playing very well with moms and daughters and helping fill the Harry Potter/Twilight void right now.

K:  When the end credits came up my reaction was “I paid $12 for an ok movie.” Sure the visuals were eye candy impressive (Cheshire Cat was creepy cool) but that last 15 minutes lost it for me.

S:  I understand where you’re coming from K. I had the chance to go a second time, at night, and I decided against it.  I think my exact words were, “I wouldn’t pay full price to see it.” 

E:  We paid the matinee price, so I don’t feel as slighted, but you’re right, the movie was wrapped up with a pretty simple ending.  Still, visually strong, but quickly wrapped up. 

K:  Just when the movie was getting good with character backstory here comes a generic action climax scene with some break-dancing moves? The final act sucked!

S:  I actually didn’t hate it.  I kept waiting throughout the movie for the dance.  But, yes, I was disappointed in it when it happened.  It was too fake I think is the word.

K:  The acting performances which stood out for me were Mia Wasikowska (Alice) and Helena Bonham Carter (Red Queen).

E:  I’m ready to see Depp in something a little less strange.  He’s becoming a caricature of himself lately.  Jack Sparrow, Mad Hatter, and Willy Wonka are starting to blend together.  We’ll see how The Tourist (with Angelina Jolie) plays out next year.  And, he’s set to star in another Pirates and the Lone Ranger.

K:  Johnny Depp (Mad Hatter) was more of a quirky supporting character in the background.  I wish Depp had more scenes.  It was nice to see Crispin Glover (Knave) back on the big screen playing his usual bad boy self.  Anne Hathaway (White Queen) is almost an afterthought with little to do in the movie other than smiling and looking elegant.

S:  But for all the ladies, Depp is still not bad to look at but I am definitely ready to see him in something other than crazy makeup and wacked out wigs.  Our recommendation…

Recommendation: Matinee

After a bit-too-long intermission, Two Guys, A Girl and a Movie are back with their thoughts on eight of the ten movies nominated for Best Picture.  An Education and Precious have yet to be screened (o.k. we ran out of time).

A Serious Man:
E:  A true Coen brothers flick – great writing, dark humor, and memorable characters wrapped around a morality play.  Similar to No Country for Old Men (case of money) and Burn After Reading (top secret files), A Serious Man forces the main character to look at the tangles of his life when he receives a bribe to change a student’s grade.  Not for all movie fans, don’t see it taking a statue, but entertaining.

S:  I thought it was very American Beauty-esque…a movie I liked, not loved.  I thought the story unfolded well but took a while.

District 9:
K:  A mild surprise to see this sci-fi nominated film over the higher grossing Star Trek. Neill Blomkamp brought fresh eyes to the genre that looked more impressive than many higher budget action/fantasy movies.

E:  You’re right on the ‘fresh eyes’ comment (which, considering what takes place in the movie may be a bit of a pun, K?).  Still, it has what OSCAR voters look for in Best Pics:  social commentary, great cinematography and a good story.  Won’t win, but still recommended for most (if you hate sci-fi, probably not for you).

S: Scary movie does not equal  S seeing to it.  Glad you both enjoyed it.

UP:
S: The first 20 mintues of the movie, I kept thinking, “Why is this marketed to young kids?” Rough subject matter for a Disney/Pixar creation.  But after, WOW what a fun ride (pun intended).  My favorite part was Doug the Dog.  I know it won’t win but I’d say it was my second favorite Oscar nominee!  See it if you haven’t already!

K:  Disney’s (Pixar’s) track record of quality movies in recent years is outstanding. The first 20 minutes of Up provides all you need to see just how deserving this Oscar nomination is. The rest of the movie is pretty entertaining too.

Up in the Air:
K:  George Clooney, Vera Vermiga, & Anna Kendrick nominations were well deserved.  May very well win an OSCAR for Adapted Screenplay.  Jason Reitman deserves kudos for his direction.  I had a good time seeing it but I can’t bring myself to see it win Best Picture.

Our Final Four for Best Picture

The Blind Side:
K:  Mix in Sandra Bullock’s commanding performance with football and elements of tone Crash and what do you have? An outperforming smash hit appealing to many in middle America-shocking many in Hollywood. An uplifting feel good movie that felt very Lifetime-like in overall film quality.

S: I’m not sure I agree with a Lifetime movie feel…I’ve never watched a full Lifetime movie and the only reason I’ve ever watched Lifetime is for Project Runway!  However, I will watch a football movie anytime, anywhere, any way I can!  I LOVED THIS MOVIE!  Can’t say enough how worth the time it was to see.  I will be Sandra Bullock’s character Leigh Ann Tuohy when I grow up.  No nonsense but with compassion to spare! Not sure if you can see this was my favorite of the nominees or not.

Inglourious Basterds:
K:  This writer/director came back with a vengence this year! Simply put the most divisive Best Picture nominee in this group.  People really love it or really are put off by Tarantino’s over the top pushing the envelope style of film making. I understand both sides of this argument. The opening scene & the bar basement scene are classic Tarantino. Expect a wild OSCAR acceptance speech should this movie win.  Christoph Waltz’s electric performance dominates when he’s on screen. He’s a probable shoo-in for Best Supporting Actor.

Avatar: 
E:  When S and I were getting popcorn before the 2D showing, we overheard the cashier saying the movie was “life changing.”  We had to chuckle.  Life changing – no.  Very, very good – yes.  Great story, easy to follow, amazing effects, it’s what a movie is supposed to be.

K:  Who knew that when I attended the midnight show before its opening day in December that it would become the all time highest grossing worldwide and domestic?  Simply put the greatest 3-D movie on the “environment” ever made (with my apologies to Al Gore). Even with James Cameron’s track record there were many a doubter saying this movie would flop on its face.  No movie has made more haters eat crow than on this one.  This film will win many or sweep the technical Oscars.  I thought the screenplay was average but Cameron more than made up for it in his outstanding direction.  Special mention to Stephen Lang and Zoe Saldena for their outstanding performances.  The favorite to win Best Picture in my opinion.

The Hurt Locker:
E:  This had OSCAR buzz from the minute it was released.  If you haven’t seen it, check your cable or satellite PPV – it should be there.

S:  We PPV’d it and was just as moving as seeing it in the theatre I’d expect.

K:  The “David” of the Best Picture nominees. Got a heck of a slingshot’s chance to win, however. Director Kathryn Bigelow sets a new standard for action directing, so much so she’s the favorite to win Best Director according to her ex husband James Cameron.  Kudos to  Jeremy Renner for his Best Actor nomination. (S:  Did you know he’s in a band and write music for keyboards and sings.  Ladies, he’s supposedly single!  Do you have your plane ticket to LA?)  No movie moved me in profound ways this year that this one. In many ways the best Hollywood made on the Iraq war and the least preachy politically.  I’ll be smiling if this one were to win Best Picture.

In the end, all are worth seeing but see these top 4 if you haven’t already!  It’s worth it to be ready for your local Oscar party!

Did you think you were crazy when you thought you saw KCRG-TV9’s Bruce Aune on a trailer for the new horror flick “The Crazies?’

Well. You’re not. Crazy that is.

Bruce Aune does indeed have a part as, what else, a television anchor on the movie, which takes place in the fictional town of Odgen Marsh, Iowa, where residents are suddenly plagued by insanity and then death after a mysterious toxin contaminates their water supply

The town may not be real, but the movie was shot in part in Iowa in Lenox and Winterset, both in the western part of the state.

Check out the trailer:

K=one guy                  E=other guy                  S=the girl

S: So let me start out by saying I was SO worried. The trailers were misleading and this movie was going to be S-C-A-R-Y!  But was hoping beyond hope that it was like one of my favorite movies, Shaun of the Dead.

K: I went in thinking, “Do we really need another zombie movie?” In the end, I’m glad I didn’t talk myself out of seeing it.

E: The set up is like any other zombie flick.  Virus goes wrong.  People start feasting on each other like a CiCi’s buffet.  A few stay untouched, band together, and try to find some sense of normalcy.

S: The gags and “The Rules” were what kept me engaged the entire time.  I was laughing my butt off!  “The Rules” reminded me of “going to the Winchester to get a pint” in Shaun of the Dead.

E: Rules like 2.  beware of bathrooms… 11. always check the backseat… 3.  always double tap (shoot ‘em in the head twice).  1.  Cardio.  30.  Never be hero.  Rules like that.

K: I enjoyed the zany, dark humor gags of Zombieland and the crazy, way over the top, gory tone of opening the scene. It sets up “The Rules” that Columbus (Eisenberg) follows to stay alive.

E: You had to love the running gag that Woody Harrelson was looking for the last Twinkie on earth.  And, it made S & me run to Hy Vee for some golden cake and creamy filled goodness after the flick.

K: Zombieland is essentially a road trip movie while parading the zombie movie genre. Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin each bring certain flair to their performances that keep the viewer engaged.

S: I loved Emma Stone in Superbad anyway but her rocker-chic look and kick-ass mentality was even better in this movie than that one.

E: And, for once, two really strong female characters in a creature feature.  That’s rare.

K: What made me really crack up unexpectedly was a terrific, out of the blue cameo by a legendary comedic actor towards the second half. The hilarious buzz worthy scene alone is worth seeing Zombieland!

S: I SO agree.  However, the end of the scene was the only thing that kind of made me a little uncomfortable.  I didn’t think it was quite the right end.

E: I think you’ve both said too much.  You’ll just have to see it for yourself (hint:  it’s not Russell Crowe, but he is the butt of a great joke).

K: Kudos for director Ruben Fleischer & the screenwriters for their creative vision for a fresh take on zombie movies.

S: I’d see this again and again and again and…

E: The ending was a little too Scooby Doo (monsters in an amusement park), but look past that for lots of laughs, a couple buckets of blood, a few one liners you’ll keep saying, and one last Twinkie.  So nut up or shut up and go see this thing.

Recommendation: Full Price for zombie movie geeks, Shaun of the Dead groupies and dark comedy fans.  Matinee if you really hate zombies.

• What: “Trucker”
• Stars: Michelle Monaghan, Jimmy Bennett, Nathan Fillion, Benjamin Bratt, Joey Lauren Adams
• Where: Starlight Cinema, 2401 Swan Lake Blvd., Independence; (319) 332-0200
• Rated: R
• Roger Ebert says: Four stars

There’s one of those perfect moments in “Trucker” when I’m thinking, ‘This is the moment to end!’ And the movie ends. It is the last of many absolutely right decisions by the first-time writer-director James Mottern, who began by casting two actors who bring his story to strong emotional life. Both of them show they’re gifted and intelligent artists who only needed a chance to reveal their talents.

Michelle Monaghan was on the brink of inhabiting forever the thankless role of the good-looking, plucky female in action movies about men. Jimmy Bennett, who was 11 or 12 at the time of shooting, has been good in heavy-duty projects before, but here shows a subtlety and command of tone that is remarkable. Together these actors create an abrasive relationship that sidesteps sentimentality.

Monaghan is Diane Ford, a trucker who just paid off her own rig. She’s 30ish, cold, hard-drinking, promiscuous, a loner. Bennett plays her son, Peter. She left him with his father, Len (Benjamin Bratt), soon after his birth, has stayed away, doesn’t like kids — or men, either, although she uses them. One man (Nathan Fillion) has been her best friend for four years, but that involves getting drunk together and never having sex.

Len gets sick. Colon cancer. He’s been living for years with Jenny (Joey Lauren Adams), who now needs time to care for him. It’s up to Diane to look after the kid. She doesn’t want anything to do with him. “Just for a few weeks,” Jenny pleads. Just until Len gets better. Sure.

You are anticipating, as I did, that “Trucker” would turn into one of those predictable movies where the mother and son grow to love one another. It doesn’t end with mutual hate and abandonment, but it damn near does.

I concede the story arc is fairly predictable, but Mottern and his actors take no hostages. Diane is hard and tough, and stays that way. Her son is angry and bitter, and stays that way. Do they need to love and be loved? Sure. By the end of the film, she hasn’t called him “Peter” and he hasn’t called her “mom.” He’s “kid” or “dude,” and she’s “you.” They have to be together whether they like it or not, and they know it.

That said, Monaghan makes Diane more sad than off-putting. She isn’t a caricature. She works hard, values her independence, is making payments on her small home, is living up to her bargain with herself. The movie spares us any scenes where she’s “one of the guys.” She doesn’t need to be nice with Peter, but one thing she does do: She’s always honest with him and speaks with him directly. Her performance clearly deserves an Academy nomination.

Peter is loved by his father and Jenny. He hasn’t been mistreated. He probably senses how sick his dad really is and knows he wasn’t parked with Diane because anyone wanted him there. He’s been told things about his mother that are, strictly speaking, true. She did leave him and Len soon after his birth.

What Mottern does is lock these two characters in a story and see what happens. Something will have to give. The supporting performances by Nathan Fillion, Benjamin Bratt and Joey Lauren Adams are precisely what is needed.

I value films that closely regard specific lives. I know they usually must have happy endings. Not always. But a film should earn it, not simply evoke it. “Trucker” sets out on a difficult and tricky path, and doesn’t put a foot wrong.

– ROGER EBERT

Winthrop native Michelle Monaghan can now add “truck driver” to her impressive resume.

After several years of pairing up with Hollywood bigwigs like Tom Cruise and Patrick Dempsey, she switched gears to make the big rig indie film, “Trucker.” It opens in limited release Friday, including at the Starlight Cinema in Independence near Monaghan’s hometown. The film keeps rolling through theaters nationwide the rest of October.

Monaghan, 33, has the lead role, a “female truck driver who loves the open road, loves being her own boss. She’s also a mother who has not had a relationship with her son for 12 years. As the movie opens, he turns up at her doorstep.

“She has to take her son in and develop a relationship with him and take responsibility. She is not prepared to do that,” Monaghan says by phone from New York City, where she now lives with husband Peter White and their daughter, Willow, born Nov. 5, 2008.

Monaghan grew up with one foot in town and one foot on the farm, but she hadn’t driven a truck before signing on to the film, shot in Riverside, Calif., in 19 days in 2007.

She got her commercial driver’s license so she could get behind the wheel for real and says driving a semi is “amazing.”

“I miss driving it,” she adds. “It’s an incredible challenge, scary, but a lot of fun.”

A self-described tomboy who likes to do her own stunts, she says, “Any opportunity to run, jump, shoot a gun, kiss a guy — any action I can get. I also have to throw a baseball in the movie,” she says with a laugh.

While Monaghan has made numerous studio films — “Eagle Eye,” “Made of Honor,” “Mission: Impossible III,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and “The Bourne Supremacy” — she also enjoys the different feel of shooting an independent film.

“As an actor, you have a lot more creative control, you have more access to the cast and crew with independent films that you don’t have with studio films. You work at a really fast pace — it’s really exciting, like doing a high school film or a short film,” she says.

She’s also happy the film is coming home for its theatrical release.

She says the Starlight in Independence

is “a great little theater in a great little town. I hope people far and wide come to see it.”

“It’s a wonderful film, a small little poignant film,” she says. “Anybody who gives it a chance won’t be disappointed. I want to thank everybody for their support. I’m really proud to be from Eastern Iowa.”

She gets back to visit her folks, Bob and Sharon Monaghan, about every three months. Her parents still live in Winthrop, while her older brothers are nearby — John lives in Cedar Falls and Bob lives in Cedar Rapids.

In another month, she’ll start working on the comedy “Due Date,” the next project from Todd Phillips, director of the outrageous buddy flick, “The Hangover.”

Her co-stars are Zach Galifianakis, also from “The Hangover,” and Robert Downey Jr., who plays her husband.

“I’m nine months pregnant and these two leading men are in a mad rush to get home to me before the baby pops,” she says. “I’ve worked with Robert before. I’m really excited. I get to wear a pregnant suit, which I’m kind of excited about.”

— Diana Nollen, THE GAZETTE

K=one guy                 E=other guy               S=the girl

E:  The good news, you don’t have to file any TPS reports… the bad news, Extract doesn’t quite live up to Office Space.

S:  But I believe you still have my stapler. 

K:  I was interested in seeing Extract when I learned that this is a Mike Judge movie.  “Beavis and Butthead” cartoons are a guilty pleasure and Office Space (starring Cedar Rapids/Marion native Rod Livingston) is one of my favorite modern-day-sleeper-cult-classic-comedy movies. I actually saw it in the theater (most people have seen it on cable and on home video).

E:  Some also know Mike Judge for “King of the Hill.”  Extract had a little “Hill” feel… smaller town, some trucker caps and mullets, solving the world’s problems over a few beers… but overall it stayed true to Judge’s movies:  a commentary on the workplace and worker/boss relationship.

K:  Extract seems to be a complimentary follow up to Office Space from a management point of view.

S:  But it wasn’t nearly as quotable.

K:  I enjoyed the performances of Jason Bateman (good as always), Mila Kunis, Kristen Wiig, David Koechner, Clifton Collins, Jr. and Gene Simmons had an entertaining cameo role.

E:  Anything is better than those stupid Dr. Pepper commercials.  How ‘bout a KISS of shut up, Gene? 

S:  David Koechner is one of my favorite character actors.  His sports-caster in Anchorman  makes me giggle every time I watch it!

K:  For me Ben Affleck’s supporting role as bartender/shaman had me rolling in laughter as he gives “advice” on how Bateman should handle his marriage woes in the sack.

S:  This was one of the few times that I believed Ben Affleck actually acted!  It was a nice departure for him. 

E:  But, and not to give away the climax of the movie (slight pun intended), I left feeling a little uneasy.  I didn’t agree with how a one night stand can fix anything.

S:  I guess that should make me feel good knowing, as your wife, that made you feel uncomfortable.  I’m so lucky!

K:  Overall, I found Extract’s comedic pacing uneven, with a safe tone and only occasionally funny scenes.

S:  I agree.  The more acerbic humor in “Beavis and Butthead” and Office Space makes me laugh just sitting here!

K:  I much prefer the more biting humor of Office Space or the summer’s best comedy The Hangover in its raunchy tone. Extract is a mild disappointment despite good acting.

 Recommendation: Matinee or rental (let’s hope there are some great outtakes with David Koechner).

Tucker Max is good for the nation’s literacy rate.

Quite seriously, if the crowd at the Iowa premier of his semi-autobiographical movie I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell on Tuesday evening is any indication, an entire generation of twentysomethings are growing up having read nothing but the antics of a self-described narcissist.

“It’s the first book I’ve ever read in just two days,” said Sam Tucker, 20, who drove all the way from Ames and was first in line for the film three hours before the doors opened.

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Max is an inventive and clever writer with a knack for telling a story, even if not a single one of those stories is reprintable in anything remotely resembling a family publication.

For the uninitiated, Tucker Max is a former law student who created a Web site based on stories he had written down for his friends. The stories mostly boast of his time spent boozing, sleeping around, making fun of people in some of the harshest ways possible, excreting on hotel floors, and generally causing problems for everyone around him.

As writing partner Nils Parker put it, “He’s a bulldozer of intention. A literal maniac in his 20s.”

From there, the Web site turned into a wildly offensive yet undeniably funny book of mostly unconnected stories, and the book into a mildly offensive and generally funny movie with loosely connected stories and a weak plot.

The movie is right in the wheelhouse for those who are already fans of Max. It’s hilarious in spurts, suitably off-color and politically incorrect (a large portion of what passes for the movie’s plot centers around Max’s search for a midget stripper so he can sleep with her, Jesse Bradford’s character makes numerous references to killing strippers, etc.), and can out-gross any other fecal matter scene this side of Zack and Miri Make a Porno. The movie delivers the funny easily on level with The Hangover, it’s most obvious recent comparison.

The real question is if anyone else will like it enough to give it the same mass appeal The Hangover enjoyed.

That the movie will do well with young males and likely young women is a given. The movie’s crew, however, says the film is testing surprisingly well with older women, which seems like it might be a bit farfetched. While Tucker and Parker certainly have a knack for biting one-liners and crude comedy, the movie sags in the serious moments and drags a bit when Tucker has a (minor) change of heart.

IHTSBIH purposefully, according to Max, leaves out many of the conventions of a Hollywood comedy, especially the redemptive ending.

“No one changes who they are in 10 days. This movie is about Tucker’s narcissism,” said Max. “The only thing he learns at the end of the movie is how to model appropriate behavior.”

In this way, the movie acknowledges that the attraction is and always has been Tucker Max himself, so why change him? A reliably self-reflective individual, Max seems to know he’s the show and has a solid grasp of exactly why people find him so interesting.

“After the comedy, the humor, the funny stuff, there’s an attraction to the fact that I’m real, authentic. There are many ways to be male, and I’m one of them,” said Max.

Tucker Max is how his fans are, were, or would like to be. In that way, Tucker Max represents a sort of odd wish fulfillment for his legions of die-hard fans, who don’t want to be superstar athletes or presidential candidates, but aspire to be the life of the party.

Lee Wilkins, a 22-year-old who skipped work to make the premier, summed up the feelings of most of the premier’s attendees: “I would definitely love to party with that guy.”

“The main question guys ask me is about being cool,” said Max. “The thing about cool is that it’s not the car you drive or the clothes you wear, it’s about being comfortable with yourself.”

But it’s not just men who try to emulate Max.

“I want to be him,” said Ali Warth, a 22-year-old graduate from Iowa City.

“I was him in college,” added her friend Joani Walton, 31.

But there’s something else going on. A sort of subtle message even Max likely didn’t intend. The movie, the book, the whole Tucker Max phenomenon tells his audience that you too can be boorish and narcissistic and still have a best-selling book and make a movie based on your life. It’s a truly interesting cultural phenomenon that will surely one day be the subject of a Chuck Klosterman essay.

– BLAKE

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell

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I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell opens nationwide on Sept. 25.

Watch the trailer: