Customer Reviews

Free Enterprise [VHS]

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

In this hilarious indie film--very loosely based on the real-life experiences of scripters Mark Altman and Robert Burnett--STAR TREK's William Shatner is cast in the role he was born to play--William Shatner.

Mark (Eric McCormack of TV's WILL & GRACE) and Robert (Rafer Weigel) are 20-something science-fiction geeks employed at the fringes of the movie industry--Mark edits a movie-fan magazine that is an obvious take-off on FANGORIA and STARLOG; Robert is a film editor at a direct-to-video film studio called Full Eclipse, a blatant parody of the real-life studio Full Moon--who one day run into their childhood hero, William "Captain Kirk" Shatner, at a purely chance meeting in a second-hand bookstore. But their mental image of Shatner is shattered when they see that the STAR TREK icon is not like his on-screen persona but is, in reality, just another egocentric actor with numerous human foibles.

Nonetheless, Mark and Robert are still smitten enough to pursue a friendship with "Bill" and promise to use their influence in "the industry" to help him get his pet project off the ground. And that project is? Well, it seems that Shatner wants to create a musical version of Shakespeare's JULIUS CAESAR in which the actor will play all the parts himself. (When Mark and Robert point out that playing both Caesar and Brutus means that Shatner will have to stab himself in the back, the actor replies, "So? I've done it before.")

Along the way, all three "boys" do a bit of maturing and start to grow beyond their prolonged childhoods. Robert gains a love interest (played by beautiful actress Audie England) and starts to take his career seriously; Mark gets over his "mid-life" crisis and accepts the fact that his 30th birthday draws nigh; and Bill's romancing of a pretty club owner (Deborah Van Valkenburgh, of TV's TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT) helps deflate his ego a bit.

The script for FREE ENTERPRISE is well written and witty, the talented cast delivers humorous yet warmly empathetic performances, and the high production values make this indie film look like it was produced on a larger budget and at a mainstream studio. The film has also won numerous awards, including Best New Writer(s) and Best Director at the 1998 AFI Film Fest, the Audience Award at the 1999 Newport Beach Film Festival, and the Saturn Award for the year 2000 from The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films. Yet FREE ENTERPRISE has never had a massive following and, consequently, has never fared too well financially. On one hand, it's not too hard to understand why this feature never became a MAINSTREAM hit. The dialogue is replete with SF, Fantasy, Comic Book, and Horror references that are too esoteric for non-genre viewers, and William Shatner's outrageously self-deprecating performance will mean little to anyone unfamiliar with the STAR TREK mythos. On the other hand, that specificity is what makes the film so thoroughly enjoyable and endearing to hard-core genre fans. So it is reasonable to conclude that, being geeky fanboys themselves, Burnett and Altman created FREE ENTERPRISE not as a lucrative commercial venture--despite the capitalistic title--but rather as a gift to all the other geeky genre fans out there.

Hard-core genre fans will get a real kick out of watching FREE ENTERPRISE, and the DVD from Pioneer Video is a must-own for any serious collector of SF and STAR TREK films. Although the widescreen transfer is letterbox and not anamorphic, the transfer is nonetheless beautifully crisp, the colors appear accurately balanced, and very few, if any, digital artifacts or filmic artifacts are noticeable. And the disc is packed with cool extras, including a feature commentary from filmmakers Burnett and Altman, a making-of featurette, and the outrageous Bard-inspired rap video by William Shatner and hip hop artist Rated R.

Be careful what you wish for! Mark and Robert, two long-time Star Trek fans, have suffered most of their lives for their love of their favorite television program. Back in school, their classmates beat them up for their devotion to the fictional Captain Kirk and the actor who played him. Now, approaching their dreaded thirtieth birthdays, the two wannabe filmmakers (and devoted collectors of action figures) still don't fit in. Neither can maintain a relationship with a girlfriend. Could it have something to do with the fact that nearly everything they say contains some reference to "Star Trek" or other science-fiction classics? Certainly not! Still, when Mark and Robert chance to meet actor William Shatner in a Los Angeles bookstore, they're in for a rude awakening. To their horror, they find their idol is a womanizing egomaniac whose dream is to play all the parts in a one-man musical production of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar." (All the parts, except that he wants Sharon Stone to play Calpurnia. Or if Sharon isn't available, then maybe Heather Locklear.)

"Free Enterprise" is a modest, independently-produced romantic comedy, written by science-fiction film columnist Mark Altman and film editor Robert Meyer Burnett (who also directed), both of whom fiercely deny that the film is in any way autobiographical. Their love of Star Trek and science fiction film is evident in every scene of this quirky, sometimes bizarre tale, which seems to have been made without any cooperation (or interference) from Paramount Studios. William Shatner shows himself to be a heretofore unsuspected comic genius who takes delight in poking fun at his public image. And his rap music version of Marc Antony's "Et tu, Brute" speech had me laughing so hard that I'll have to watch the movie again just to see if I missed anything.

Although "mainstream" viewers will certainly enjoy the film's comedic plot, hardcore science fiction fans will take special delight in "Free Enterprise"'s many subtle (and not-so-subtle) in-jokes. My personal favorite was Shatner's botched pick-up line, delivered to a beautiful woman, a classic Kirk speech from "Conscience of the King." (Oddly enough, it didn't work anywhere near as well for Shatner as it did for Kirk.) On the other hand, I didn't notice (until a friend pointed out to me) that all the drinks in a bar were green, which seems to be a clever reference to Scotty's immortal "it's green" line. Other gags include references to such fan favorites as "Logan's Run," "Star Wars," "Planet of the Apes," "Wonder Woman," and even "Buckaroo Banzai." Even the end titles are full of tiny jokes buried in the credits.

The DVD version has a beautiful letterbox transfer and lots of great behind-the-scenes material in the supplement. Especially interesting is the commentary track, as well as an alternate caption track that footnotes the sources of many of the film's delightful in-jokes.

Unlike a recent "documentary" that tries to portray Star Trek fans as freaks, "Free Enterprise" is surprisingly well-done, and made with obvious affection for Star Trek fans, as well as for Star Trek itself. It's the funniest movie ever made for science fiction fans, by science fiction fans.

I love watching old science fiction movies. I love quoting my favorite parts from these movies. This is not a star trek film. This is not a William Shatner film. This is a film about people like me.

The film is basically about a group of 4 or so friends, who are science fiction junkies. It talks about their jobs, their girlfriends, and their obsession with science fiction memorabilia and movies. They bump into Shatner, who turns out to be pretty messed up, and they discuss Shatner's obsession with the play Julius Caesar. Trek fans, be warned-Bill Shatner's appearance is minimal.

This film was very needed, mostly to help people like me understand that I'm not losing my mind. This is a constant danger if you quote, revel in, and fantasize about too much science fiction. The main characters of this film do exactly that. And, even though they are not the most likeable people, they are likeable enough, and reasonably complex characters.

I loved the incessant references to various science fiction shows and movies. Logan's Run could possibly be the best Sci-Fi movie of all time, and there were just about as many references to each of Logan's Run, Star Trek, and Star Wars. However, there are references to dozens of other science fiction movies.

As a final note, I always enjoy movies like this that use a vast vocabulary.

As other reviewers have pointed out, this is a dialogue-driven film, and it's very funny. The main characters are aged 30-something (in the year 1999) and grew up watching sci-fi and reading comic books. They effortlessly quote Star Wars, Star Trek, and many more obscure shows, but have some problems with the ladies (surprise surprise!). The plot, if there is one, centres on the character played by Weigel, who meets a girl with similar tastes (in the comic store!), and their courtship. Basically, though, it's mostly these men hanging out in L.A. bars, trying to score, and yacking about relationships and laser discs. At the same time, they have befriended William Shatner, but he's not quite the person they thought he'd be.....

Shatner has always been at the forefront of Trek lampoonery - witness his "Get a Life" sketch on Saturday Night Live. In this film, he plays a parody of himself - he pompously informs the heroes he's planning a musical version of Julius Caesar wherein he'll play all the parts ("except Calpurnia"). When it's pointed out that he'll have to stab himself in the back, he replies "I've done it before!"

Even though the film was called "Free Enterprise," and even though Shatner is in it, it is not a film for Trekkies only - Star Wars and Logan's Run references equal those from Trek. Certainly, people that grew up at the same time as the characters will appreciate the more subtle jokes, but it's really quite accessible generally and fun for anyone. Granted, there is a lot of incidental sex and alcohol consumption, which may turn off some viewers.

The DVD contains lots of extras, especially some explanations of various inside jokes, a making-of featurette, and some neat deleted scenes.

I loved this movie-- saw it on one of the cable channels and bought it just the other day because I must share it with my other Trek-obsessed nerd-buddies. Shatner plays himself with much humility-- making fun of your quirks is not something most Hollywood types seem very good at. We all know the legend of Shatner, all the feuds that supposedly take place backstage, the arrogance. We also know that the actors supposedly think Trek fans are crazily obsessed to know what episode and scene things happen in, and quiz the stars on why Kirk did this or that. We know all about the rivalry between Old Trek (classic) and New Trek (TNG etc). All of these details make the film a must-see for those of us obsessed enough to call ourselves Trek Fans and to hoot "Shatner is a GOD" even when we see him in those dopey Priceline commercials.

But there is stuff in this film you'll love even if you're not a Trek-fan. Eric McCormack's performance is great-- if you only know him from Will & Grace, you'll find him both funny & jerk-y sometimes (his character is the arrogant, faux-intellectual type who actually says "I know people"! but who actually obsesses over getting older in a believable way, turning what could be a caricature of a sci fi fan into a real-seeming person).

Even if you're not the type of person who has collectible merchandise lining a shelf in your house, you know someone who is, and will find the characters in this film entertaining...

The movie is about Trek fans and how their lives progress (or fail to) after meeting an idol (who turns out to be a human being who steals pick up lines and sometimes fails with women)-- but it's also about friendship, and growing up, and the way movies can sometimes change your life.

This is a romantic comedy centered on two Star Trek fans that now work in the film business. Robert (Rafer Weigel) is the less responsible of the two friends and spends most of his film editor's paycheck on action figures and laserdiscs. Mark (Eric McCormack) is constantly loaning Robert money and bailing him out of financial trouble. Audie England shines as Robert's love interest and seemingly perfect woman. The hook here is provided when the two "Trekkies" meet their idol William Shatner (playing himself). However, instead of being a god as they imagined, Shatner is a bumbling, incompetent fool who can't get a woman.

Free Enterprise is presented in a clean and clear transfer with very good sound although as a dialogue driven film that is not a major issue. I found the extras on this disc to be extremely well done and a cut above the ordinary. First is the commentary of writer/director Robert Meyer Burnett and producer/writer Mark Altman who are the inspiration for the two lead characters in this autobiographical work. The two men talk almost non-stop about their experiences as first-time independent filmmakers in a witty and fascinating manner.

Next are the deleted scenes that comprise over 30 minutes of screen time. One thing I enjoyed was that each scene is prefaced by an explanation of why the scene was deleted and the place where it would have appeared in the film. This is a great way to get inside the heads of the filmmakers and really enjoy and understand the process they went through. The deleted scenes are generally of higher quality than many I have seen and are well worth watching in their own right.

Another innovative feature is a trivia subtitle track that explains the many references in the movie. This is a real boon for those who might be unfamiliar with sci-fi and "lets them in" on the jokes. For myself, I got about 80% of the references the first time around but it was still great to be able to pick up what I did miss and believe me there are some subtle things here. Also included and well done are a documentary, screen tests, glossary, and the original music video with Shatner as a rap artist (believe it or not).

This is a very enjoyable film that will be sure to delight Sci-fi and Trek fans everywhere with its multitude of references to that subject matter. The actors are great, especially Shatner in his self-effacing role and Patrick Van Horn who plays a womanizing sidekick. The DVD is loaded with features and is no doubt the preferred version for Free Enterprise fans.

Free Enterprise is really two stories woven together. One story is a romance about a couple of hard core sci-fi fan trying to find true love, despite the handicap their passion for sci-fi seems to be with most of the women they meet. The other story is about the same two hard core sci-fi fans meeting their life-long idol, William Shatner. This is a truly funny movie that also works very well on several other levels. As viewers, we quickly are engaged by these fascinating, multi-faceted characters and the complexities of their lives. There is a large cast of supporting characters and they are quirky and engaging, also. The story is fairly predictable but the outstanding performances by all involved, especially Shatner, makes Free Enterprise thoroughly enjoyable.

The DVD is a marvelous example of what the medium can do. The video and audio are exemplary. The video could only be improved by being presented in an anamorphic transfer. What makes this DVD special, however, is the huge variety of extras. The story's dialogue features a constant stream of pop culture references, most of them to sci-fi like Star Trek, Star Wars, and Logan's Run, but also other movies, television shows and science fiction books are referenced, as well. Spotting these references adds a whole different level of entertainment for fans of sci-fi. The DVD assists by providing a subtitle track that explains the references and a glossary of terms. Other extras include a very informative "making-of" featurette with extensive interviews with the producer and director (who served as models for the two lead characters), an extensive selection of deleted scenes, screen tests, and the full music video of William Shatner and Rated R doing "No Tears for Caesar." The writer/director/editor (Robert Meyer Burnett) and the writer/producer (Mark A. Altman) provide a fascinating and informative audio commentary track. You will want to watch this movie at least three times, once by itself, once with the terminology subtitles turned on, and once with the commentary turned on.

I highly recommend this DVD. It is an affectionate but funny look at sci-fi fans, a highly entertaining movie, and a great DVD.

I bought this film partly because of Shatner, pertly because Mark Altman (Producer) writes for Cinescape and had piqued my interest in the film, and partly because I was able to purchase the DVD for $7.50 with a coupon.

I must say, I was pleasently surprised! First of all, this is a top-notch DVD, especially for such a film- no one took any notice of it at the box office. There are some very funny deleted scenes, a very interesting and informative audio commentary, and even making-of goodies like a documentary and screen tests. My favorite extra was a sort of glossary that explained some of the more obscure sci-fi in jokes it the movie.

Which brings me to why I probably enjoyed the film as much as I did- I am a pretty big sci-fi/movie fan. I was rolling on the ground at some of the quotes and references (my favorite: the group is on a roadtrip to Toys R Us. As they near the parking lot, someone says, "Almost there!", and another retorts with, "Stay on target!". If you don't get the reference, it is from the first Star Wars movie- my brother and I caught it immediatly- the inflection was just right. A good example of the movie's humor.) But the movie is not just for genre fans. My mom liked it a lot too- it has a story in there somewhere, albeit a thin one.

Overall- entertaining movie, wonderful DVD.

Surprisingly well written, witty and well acted film about twenty-something bachelors who are products of not just Star Trek but 70's TV and film pop culture.

Free Enterprise is a somewhat of a biography of the film's writer and director's obsession with growing up "Star Trek". It is nice to see that they don't take themselves and the "Trek" phenomenon too seriously. Though on the surface the film may appear to be about Star Trek fanaticism, it really is a charming triple romantic comedy which will certainly appeal to a wider audience.

I picked it up at the library and I just had to check it out because it looked so bad - but I was pleasantly surprised.

Here's what the back cover says:

"Free Enterprise is the first film about the so-called "Star Wars Generation," the thirtysomethings who are neither Generation X or Slackers. They are the baby boomers who grew up with Captain Kirk on the tube and Luke Skywalker on the big screen."

"It's a dysfunctional story about 2 avid "Star Trek" fans...who meet their idol, William Shatner, and discover he's nothing like his fictional counterpart. With their illusions shattered, the two friends must face their fears about the future in this contemporary comedy that combines the hip, L.A. romantic milieu of "Swingers," with the knowing pop culture sophistication of 'Clerks.'"

So, after reading that you know I had to check it out. It was a good little movie - not life changing, but funny for all of us who have ever referred to the person in the shotgun seat in the car as "mr. Sulu" because he has to be navigator. Fun things to watch for include: Kiss Action figures, Space 1999 spaceships hanging from the bedroom cieling, grown adult men looking at Star Wars dolls in the store, references to "Logan's Run" and William Shatner rapping.

Shatner plays himself and constantly pokes fun at his reputation as an arrogant, bombastic goof. Either the man has no ego, or his ego is so large that he doesn't mind being the butt of the joke.

If you watch this movie - be sure to watch during the credits - there's more, even though it looked like the movie was over.

In the credits it also says, tongue in cheek, to watch for the upcoming sequel "Willaim Shatner vs. The World Crime League." Now that sounds like a movie!