Glory Daze - Es lebe die Uni

I actually just bought the cassette of the soundtrack of this movie because the track list was amazing. I wish I had seen this movie when I was a teenager, it would have been my favourite film, but watching it as a 34 year old just made me think of a time gone by. Worth a watch even just to reminisce about your teen years.

I'm a big fan of the examination of teens and young adults (being a teenager myself) and Glory Daze is a great story of a group of best friends on the eve of adulthood and how basically all of them are terrified of moving on from college and into the real world.

During the movie we discover the various characteristics, interests, styles, dreams and aspirations of the various leading characters. Their stories intertwine, and involve each other in some way. All of the plots involved in Glory Daze are simple, but flow smoothly and steadily in the backdrop of campus parties and bonfires. The acting is superb and the cast is simply perfect(of course it's better to watch the movie now when most of the actors (Ben Affleck, Sam Rockwell, and French Stewart) all become more well known names. All of them are perfect in their roles as bewildered college students. I love the end of the movie (but I won't spoil anything). I recommend this movie to anyone, especially teenagers, who just want to watch a movie about the fun and anxiety of the last days of real youth. 9/10. I also recommend Dazed And Confused, a great teen movie.

Before you get excited about a cast that includes the likes of Brendan Fraser, Matthew McConaughey, Matt Damon and Leah Remini, ("The King of Queens"), let it be stated for the record that the sum total of screen time for these four players is something in the region of three minutes. At the time they were marked as new talent to be watched; before they became stars.

College comedies tend to be crude and downright stupid. While "Glory Daze" does have it's moments of such things it is redeemed by some good ensemble playing. Being the story of a bunch of guys renting a house it's crucial that the bond between the characters of this disparate group be palpable. In this, director Rich Wilkes has succeeded. While dealing with the serious issue of making decisions which will affect the rest of one's life, "Glory Daze" remains light, never losing sight of what it set out to be; a fun movie.

While it's not a whole lot of fun, it is watchable. Ben Affleck is surprisingly good in this early role, but that in itself is a back handed compliment, since it also indicates how little he's developed with his elevation to big star status. Sam Rockwell's humor and reticent charm never fails to work, though he's not called upon to do much. French Stewart is less irritating that one may expect as too is Alyssa Milano.

Interesting mainly for the cast, "Glory Daze' has a nice feel to it, but not one to seek out.

It's two days before Jack Freeman (Ben Affleck) graduates with a liberal arts degree from University of California. He lives with his friends cartoonist Mickey, long-time student Dennis (French Stewart), Slosh who keeps quitting his jobs, and Rob (Sam Rockwell). Rob is planning to move to LA with his girlfriend Joanie (Megan Ward) but he's worried about being so close to her mother. Dennis is offered a job with Professor Luther. Chelsea (Alyssa Milano) has a crush on Mickey but he treats her like a little sister. Jack has no plans for the future as he gets over his ex Dina. He wonders if he could extend his glory daze.

There is an aimlessness to the movie much like Jack. Rich Wilkes is unable to harness that into something more compelling. His directing level is strictly amateurish and holds no promise of anything better. It's fun to see some of these big names as their younger self in a small film. Matt Damon makes a cameo like Ben's lap dog which is fun. It's a rambling film without the skills or the knowing comedy. The cast keeps it interesting.

Rich Wilkes best screenplay yet! This is simply a great movie. If you're a fan of Kevin Smith, if you like "Good Will Hunting" then this movie is bound to be in your top ten list. If you're new to low-budget films, "Glory Daze" is excellent proof that good films don't require loads of money and dazzling special effects.

The actors are top notch! There wasn't one scene where I was thinking that these guys were acting. When I first saw the characters I was expecting stereotypes galore, not so. Rich Wilkes did a great job of including different aspects of the social circle while avoiding the stereotype syndrome. I'm not positive but I think this was Wilkes first hand at directing, he did a wonderful job. Didn't feel like I was on the outside looking in at all!

The bus scene is a riot! Great job done by Brandon Frasier, Leah Remini, and Jay Lacopo. Jay's portrayal of a bus driver will crack you up! Not that this is the only funny scene, you'll be laughing throughout the entire movie.

Check out some of the quotes! http://us.imdb.com/Quotes?Glory+Daze+(1996)

Do yourself a favor and SEE THIS MOVIE!

"Slosh is the man!"