Dude, where's my refund?

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Dude, where's my refund?

Last Update: 3/4/01; 7:01:18 pm

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Dude!!!

By Emma Hoddinott
But Dude, where are the funny bits?
I expected a lot from Dude, Where's My Car? A film about Jesse and Chester, two 'stoners' who wake up following a wild night of partying, unable to remember what on earth they had got up to.
The stars Seann William Scott and Ashton Kutcher were impressive in American Pie and sitcom That '70's Show respectively, and to all intents and purposes appear to be modern day Bill and Ted in this new film. A perfect combination you would think.
However the script is unsubtle and devoid of wit and originality. In trying to emulate American Pie and Road Trip, both of which Scott is in incidentally, all the writers have actually achieved is eighty-four minutes worth of tired old frat-boy jokes.
It does have a couple of little gems hidden deep within it though. The tattoo confusion is clever and the stoned dog a genuinely funny character.
This film has a lot of potential, the idea is wacky and the actors perfect for their roles. However in the rush to cash-in on the success of American Pie, it has not had time to mature. Had Jesse and Chester not been so brain dead, they could have been brilliantly sarcastic and had the producers not been so desperate to make money, the token titillation could have been avoided, leaving room for real humour.
Sit it out though, if only for the outtakes that are played as the credits roll. They truly are the funniest part of the whole experience.
Emma_hoddinott@btinternet.com
Links:
Dude's official site: http://www.dudewheresmycar.com Odeon Cinema Listings: http://odeon.co.uk