I went with a friend to see this movie on opening weekend on Saturday, July 22, 2000, and my friend and I were in the mood for a dumb comedy to cheer us up. How many of you feel that this movie was mismarketed? I don't feel that the movie was a comedy (and have seen this mentioned elsewhere). My friend and I felt that movie got better near the end, but felt a bit let down by the movie, which instead of being a comedy, as advertised, was the story of a nice guy being treated meanly by his roommates. It was rather depressing, and we had to go do something else to cheer ourselves up afterwards.

Anyone who was not considered "cool" in high school or college can certainly relate to the way Paul was treated by his roommates in the movie. I was treated in such a manner many times all through elementary, junior high, and high school. I was one of the most picked-on guys there, since I was not good at sports, was typically one who got good grades, and tried to be easy going and friendly to everyone. Luckily, my college years were much better. This movie certainly reminded me of a lot of those things that people did to me back then. Some of those mean people had similar fates to those that picked on Paul in "Loser". One of the worst ones that drove me nuts from 1979 to 1985 got into serious trouble and had to serve time in prison for a while. I'd say I must change my mind a bit about this movie and give it a better "rating" than before. Just don't expect a dumb cheer-you-up comedy. There are some real issues and situations in that movie that are worth thinking about, like Paul being treated meanly by roommates, roommates drugging girls at parties to make it easy to take advantage of them, and the professor having an affair with an underage girl and being blackmailed because of it.

The story line is well-suited for a soap-opera.

When the DVD came out, I rented it with the knowledge that it was not really a comedy and possibly a bit of a 'downer'. Knowing this in advance, I was very impressed with 'Loser'. I also try not to have any expectations of movies in general, and allow the film to become whatever it might be.

It was very sensitively acted and directed. I guess the movie is really asking questions about what is wrong with so many people; why is the protagonist so unacceptable to his peers? Ok, the hat was a bit silly, sure, but he was a perfectly nice guy. His father's advice to him, which opens the movie, is meant for comic relief...but the irony is very much there too. If one views this scene - and the movie - for its pathos rather than for laughs, it succeeds admirably. The fact that the father is so 'out of touch' with his earnest advice IS Amy Heckerling's point.

She goes even further when the one person who 'gets' the central character - his love interest - is totally blind to the cruelty of her lover. Tied in with this, as you pointed out, is the blackmail stuff and suddenly you have a film which really is quite scathing and has a lot to say, yet retains its warmth and humanity throughout.

I loved the reference to 'The Graduate' with the aerial shot of the plaza accompanied with the Simon and Garfunkel tune 'Scarborough Fair'. Very moving.