Broke-Ass Nostalgia: Swingers
If you are in your twenties and thirties, you probably could perform Swingers movie as a one-person show. I have no need to convince you that it is a classic. It’s the film that launched Vince Vaughn and John Favreau’s careers, had bros telling each other “you’re so money and you don’t even know it” and helped relaunch the brief comeback of swing in the mid nineties (you’re welcome, Brian Setzer Orchestra). Although it is the ultimate bro-movie, but as a female Broke-Ass I can still relate; trying to make it both in career and with the “cool” crowd. Ah, the trial and tribulations of looking to get laid in Los Angeles.
How does it hold up?
Well, for the sake of journalistic research, I watched it again and it is still pretty hilarious. And also touching.
For as long as their has been life, people have been going to parties and bars to make their wishes come true, whether it be to get laid, meet amazing people, or get drunk. So, in the last 15 years, that has not changed. Mike is a struggling stand-up comic and his friends are struggling actors, yet still spend several nights out buying lots of fancy cocktails. Sure, they may not be contributing to their 401K, but they are living their lives and having a damn good time. Mike’s apartment is pretty much a shithole, so that is probably true.
Trent is most certainly living the Broke-Ass lifestyle: living life and not worrying about the serious things, and if we don’t already have one, we all want a Trent in our lives. Someone who will always be positive and want us to have fun no matter what your woes are (ex-girlfriends, not getting your dream job ). Maybe you are the Trent of your friend group… Congratulations! How do you do it?
The guys in the movie spend a lot of screen time going to bars, parties, and impromptu Vegas trips looking to pick up women and shoot the shit. However, underneath all the quest to get laid, Swingers is about sticking with your friends and giving them tough love, not giving up on your dream, and appreciating where you are in life.
What did we learn?
You never double down. Don’t call a girl less than seven days after you get her number. Don’t talk obsessively about your ex to everyone who will listen. Also, just relax, have fun, and the rest will somehow fall into place. Although one wonders, where would those characters be now? Perhaps Trent is in one of the Saw sequels, and perhaps Mike is doing the cruise ship circuit.
If you ever find yourself in Los Angeles, really do check out the Dresden. Marty and Elaine still perform there.
“How about if I wait six weeks to call. I could tell her I found her number while I was cleaning out my wallet, I can’t remember where we met. I’ll ask her what she looks like and then I’ll ask her if we fucked. How about that? Would that be money?”
Photocredit: http://aneeshchaganty.wordpress.com
