Justin's Rating: 3.9 GPA
Justin's Review: Road Trip is little more than a thinly-veiled attempt at college "guys" trying to hold on to their immature childhood and refusing to accept the responsibility of growing up to father children, invest in mutual funds, and go golfing. I heartily refuse to endorse this film, because of its overt masculine themes, including seeing women in a nudity-like situation. Go rent a classic that will nuture proper feelings and spur philisophical debates, such as Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, instead.

[pause]

Okay, all the women gone? Okay, guys, listen up... Road Trip is possibly one of the greatest movies of all time, likely to sweep the Oscars in 2001. Sure, sure, some of you might say I'm just a dreamer for saying such things, but reserve your judgement until you see this masterpiece of dead mice and naughty video tapes.

Road Trip begins with 8-year Ithica veteran Barry (Tom Green) giving a hysterical lackluster tour of the college. His group bored with him, Barry resorts to telling an inspirational tale of his friends and a legendary road trip they made. It seems that dedicated boyfriend Josh (Breckin Meyer) cheated on his girlfriend, who is attending college in Austin, TX. Not only does he cheat, but he accidentally sends her the video tape with his amorous affair on it. Thus the mission: grab three good friends, one Ford Taurus, and travel 1800 miles to intercept the tape before it gets to his girlfriend the next Monday. Accompianing him are E.L. (aka "Stifler" from American Pie), stoned Rubin (Paulo Costanzo), and ultra-geek Kyle (DJ Quails). Not to bore you with the plot or anything, but they get into a lot of adventures on the road (which, for a road trip movie, seems to spend very little time actually driving) which include (for example) an all-black fraternity, a trip to the sperm bank, and swiping a bus from the school for the blind. Wholesome, yes? Meanwhile, Barry (in the flashback) stays behind and tries to feed a mouse to Rubin's boa constricter.

Lots of critics will be lambasting this film for a lack of depth and its blatant appeal to college age (and younger) guys. I agree with both of those observations, but I sometimes wonder if the critics actually go to see these movies with other people in the theater. Mine (a matinee viewing) had people laughing out loud for most all of the film. It's outrageous and sometimes tasteless, but it's also loaded with funny - just perfect for a college flick. Really, if I had to pick any part of Road Trip that left me unsatisfied, it was whenever it descended into discussing and examining relationship (for instance, the guys have a whole list of rules that make it OK to cheat). If a movie's going to basically say that relationships equal sex and little else, than don't condescend to trying to make them seem to be more than that through cheap talk, I say. So be prepared for lots of nudity, I daresay more nudity than will ever be in any other film released this year.

When I was walking out of the theater, I heard one guy instantly say to his friend, "I love the part with the car." Which is true, he does love it. But that gives you an indication of what kind of movie this is: if you see it with friends, you'll instantly be repeating all the scenes by going, "I liked it when...". It's what marks a cult classic, which I'm sure Road Trip will fall under. The world is just not ready for Tom Green yet; it possibly never will be.

Didja Notice?
I spent a lot of time during this movie examining Josh' hawk-like nose. Freaks me out.

The Movie Store!
Road Trip: Movie [VHS]
Road Trip: Soundtrack [CD]

Intermission!
Road Trip has two trailers that were released; one was the theatrical version, and the other was an "R-rated" version that went strictly to videos and DVDs. You can view both trailers on the official Road Trip website.

Groovy Quotes:

Barry: This is the Joseph H. Nelson Memorial library here. This was built in the 1600s...
Girl: 1600s? It says 1951.
Barry: [pause] That's its address. Wiseass.

Barry: That's the psychology department. Each semester you'll be expected to volunteer for some cutting-edge experimental testing. Just a tip: when it's your turn, remember to wear loose clothing, no metal, and be prepared to receive several heavy doses of electrical current. They're watching us now.

Barry: After high school, they faced their most challenging challenge ever: a long distance relationship.

Barry: Can we feed it?
Paul: No, if you feed him now, he could die!
Barry: So? It'd be worth it.

Girl: Girls just don't stand around talking topless!
Barry: Hey, it's my story and I say they were!

Beth: Are there any guys out there who are just normal?

Josh: I’m invested in this relationship.
E.L.: Invested? Who are you, Charles Schwab?

E.L.: Let's start the bidding at five dollars!
Guy: Three dollars and fifty cents.
E.L.: Good god, man, she's not a happy meal!

Barry: [singing] Tiny salmon swimming in the stream... tiny salmon chasing that impossible dream...

E.L.: Austin? That's like 10,000 miles from here.
Josh: It's 1800.

Josh: You're coming?
E.L.: What else am I going to do, stay here and learn? Road trip.

E.L.: Tell me you mailed the Beth tape to Tiffany?! YES!

E.L.: This is supposed to be a road trip. All we’re doin’ is driving.

E.L.: What the hell is that? Did you kill a cheetah?

Paul: You've never left this town, have you Barry?
Barry: No, not really.
Paul: You should look into that. That could turn into a debilitating phobia.
Barry: Okay, I'll do that.

E.L.: If you're too wasted to remember it, it's like it never happened.

Barry: Are you here for the Feeding? It's not 'till tomorrow. You should come back - it'll be a bloodbath.

E.L.: [looking at the broken bridge] This? We could make it.

Motel Manager: Is there anything else I can help you with? Perhaps you'd like an 11-year-old prostitute sent to your room. We can do that. Or we can off someone for you.

Josh: I don't even want to know how you got this.
E.L.: I stole it from a blind chick!
Josh: I said I didn't want to know.

Barry: UNLEASH THE FURY!!!

Kyle: Racist? But I watch Oprah Winfrey every day!

Kyle: I boinked her!
E.L.: Boinked?
Paul: Did you just say the word 'boinked'?

Josh: [reading a sign] Manilow? Barry's last name is Manilow?

If you liked this movie, try these:
PCU
American Pie
Dead Man On Campus

DVD Review
This DVD comes in both rated and unrated versions, the difference between the two (as I understand it) is precisely 15 more seconds of nudity. It's nothing really exceptional, as far as DVDs go, and doesn't even include a commentary. There's a pretty lame "Behind the scenes" thing, where Tom Green pretty much pesters everyone on the set (My favorite line is when he says "American Pie sucked!" to Sean William Scott). The most compelling reason to pick up this disc is to see the 7 or 8 deleted scenes, most of which are really quite funny (but have to be viewed as one big collection, instead of being able to select them yourself). They include some more highlights from Tom Green's tour (a dorm with oxygen cocoons), a beatbox breakdown by one of the kids, and a way-too-friendly policeman.