Customer Reviews

A Guy Thing

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

Sometimes I get stuck into watching this type of movie because my daughter rents these things and forces me to watch them. She loved this movie and thought it was funny, stupid, but funny. I had to give you the teen daughter perspective before I gave you mine.

I admit this movie is silly, unnecessary, and throwaway. I still laughed in a lot of places. I also groaned in a few places too. Example: When Paul Coleman (Jason Lee) found Becky's (Julia Stiles) panties when his fiance was on the way over, he searched all over the apartment for a place to hide them, ultimately hiding them in the toilet. You knew what was going to happen, and what did happen. Also, there was a running joke about pictures of Becky and Paul, which we never got to see, being found by a minister's son, who also happened to live in the same apartment building. The son kept finding the pictures and the minister kept bringing them back. *sigh*.

The tale is a bit hackneyed as well. Girl and guy are prepared to be married, seemingly the perfect couple. Guy meets another girl, girl meets another guy, everyone wonders what's wrong with this picture; guess how it all turns out? SURPRISE!!! NOT!!!

In spite of a re-tread plot, and in spite of the groans, there were places that this movie was creative and humorous; not many, but enough that I felt that watching the movie wasn't a complete waste of time. I felt a bit guilty watching this movie because I knew the premise had been done (and done, and done), and many of the jokes were weak, and yet, I like the movie. I think that one thing that really saved this movie was Julia Stiles. She really is not centrally involved in all the happenings, occasionally appearing aloof, and she manages to escape this movie leaving everyone watching with a positive impression. Julia saves this movie from being a waste of time. I look for Julia to get better parts and bigger roles in the future.

I won't go so far out on the limb as to give this movie any more than 3 stars (and perhaps a low three at that). Watch the movie for the interaction of everyone with Julia Stiles, and accept the groans as payment for watching those interactions.

Warmed-over "nothing". Obviously the screenwriter and director have seen "Four Weddings and a Funeral", as well as a bunch of other gen-x comedies of the last decade. The type of movie where the hero is constantly placed in "embarrassing" situations, and all the humor is derived from his discomfort. Several good actors are utterly wasted here -- why would lovely talented Julia Stiles have ever considered this part? She won't suffer any long term harm, but it hardly counts as a career move. Jason Lee gets less interesting with every movie he makes, and Selma Blair has done this identical part --- the prim yuppie girl who gets dumped for the blond heroine -- more than a few times, especially in "Legally Blonde."

There isn't a legitimate laugh in this entire boring movie, and Stiles and Lee have literally NO chemistry together...when they kiss at the end, it's like watching two cousins buss each other at a family picnic. Unsexy, unromantic, unfunny. DO NOT BOTHER to watch or rent this...you have better things to do.

Surprisingly fun romantic comedy. Not a lot of "fall out of your chair" comedy here, but it's consistent and fun. The soundtrack is awesome, rather than go to big names for music, they use "bar band" music to create the moods for the movie, it surprisingly works well, and adds to the goofy awkward feeling of the movie. Terrific likable characters that you can relate to, I'm always saying to myself, "That reminds me of this guy I know", or "Yea, that would suck if it happened to me".

Bottom Line:
I can't help it, I like this movie. Maybe it's a "Guy Thing".

Life is ludicrous from time to time. "A Guy Thing" is equally silly & absurd. It's mind numbing but funny. A moment I particularly like is when Paul Coleman (Jason Lee) is beaten up by Ray and thrown into a dumpster. His fiancee Karen (Selma Blair) happens along. Of course, being a guy trying to salvage some pride, he fabricates a story that he was brave despite being mugged. So when the police show up, his description of the perpetrator gets more & more bizarre. "What was his race?" the officer asks. Lee looks puzzled. "Was he black or white?" "A little of both." "And he had red hair, in dreadlocks, with a gold tooth, and a tattoo of barbed wire around his neck." Paul of course thinks that no one will match that description only to wind up at a line-up where Hansberry played by Victor Varnado stands there, part black, part white, red hair, dreadlocks, with a gold tooth & a tattoo of barbed wire around his neck. "Oh, it's not him!" Lee yells. It's stupid; but it's hilarious.

Director Chris Koch previously directed "Snow Day" with Jean Smart & Chevy Chase. He does a good job of keeping the pace moving from one intensely ridiculous occurrence to the next. Julia Stiles shines. She is so funny, sweet and sincere. The fact that Jason Lee is 10 years older than she doesn't dull the romance. Mr. Barbra Streisand, otherwise known as James Brolin, does a great job as Karen's macho dad. Selma Blair who was great in "Cruel Intentions" and "Legally Blonde" does a good job as his fiancee.

I also like the wonderful moments given to the supporting players. Diana Scarwid who was nominated for an Oscar in 1980 for playing with John Savage in "Inside Moves" and was Faye Dunaway's abused daughter in the Joan Crawford biopic "Mommie Dearest" looks elegant as the mother of the bride. Julie Haggerty who was so funny in the "Airplane" movies is the other mom. Her film hubby here is the grossly unmannered Buck played by David Koechner who can currently be seen in "My Boss' Daughter." Thomas Lennon from "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" is wonderful as the starry-eyed brother who eventually walks away with Karen. Canadian actress Jackie Burroughs who was in "Willard" is hilarious as Irish Aunt Budgie who will stop at nothing to sneak a glass of wine. Lochlyn Munro from "Dead On Campus," "Duets," and "A Night at the Roxbury" plays the boneheaded ex-boyfriend of Julia Stiles. Even a couple of walk-ons are extremely memorable. Keith Dallas is the Spend Mart clerk who covers on the phone for a complete stranger about a pair of used underwear supposedly purchased from their underwear bins by saying, "It's those college kids who keep playing pranks by coming here and sticking dirty underwear in our underwear bins." He hangs up & explains, "It's a guy thing." Zahf Paroo is delightful as the perky Ahmed who is joyfully exuberant while Lee & Lennon get fitted for their tuxes.

The DVD offers some good bonus scenes, one in particular where Karen wants to have sex with Jason the night before their wedding. Jason unfortunately can't because he's wearing a police wire trying to catch the dirty cop Ray. It didn't fit in the movie, but is more hilarity. The comments on bachelor parties are funny with Lennon relating a 4-day bachelor party in Amsterdam he attended. Cast members then comment on his wild story.

Yes, "A Guy Thing" is utterly silly & ultimately forgettable. I've rented it twice, not recalling I'd already seen it. But it is a good time while it's going on. Kind of like life, eh? Enjoy!

Contrary to the overly critical reviews posted on this site, this film is enjoyable. It is predictable, yes. But so are all the rest of the films in this genre. If you want the next Citizen Kane, then I'd question why you're looking for it in a contemporary Romantic Comedy.

That said the film is decidedly average. Jason Lee sets a different tone as the leading man. He's a joy to watch but seems slightly out of place throughout. He manages to pull it off in this film, but just barely. Julia Stiles was a good counter-point to Lee's charm. Her understated performance seemed to match Lee every step of the way. Together they almost make you believe some of the more unbelieveable aspects of the film. The soundtrack is quite nice as well. Filled with songs by some of the better rock groups around, such as Wilco and Spoon. As previously stated, the plot is rather predictable. However it is standard in the tradition of romantic comedies and shouldn't count against the film. It's an average film with that considered.

I won't say much about this one. I don't care what you `My Name Is Earl' fans have to say about it, this film forever killed Jason Lee for me. It made me hate him. To be fair, I remember nothing about this film. It was that bad. The plot is forgettable and predictable and full of clichés. I love Julia Stiles. Yes, she has absolutely no career at the moment, but she deserved one. She had such fire and spunk and undeniable charm. I seriously was in love with her at one point. I would welcome her back to cinema with open arms. She is the only favorable memory of have of this film (that, and Selma Blair's backside, which is always favorable). The gags are ridiculous and the whole premise is just begging to be picked apart and crucified. In fact, I forwent paying attention all together and made-out with my girlfriend in the empty theater.

Paul Colman (Jason Lee) is reluctantly having a bachelor party. He innocently buys a bear for an inept hula girl (Julia Stiles) that was part of the entertainment. He wakes up to find her in his bead and is fiancé on the way. From there it is one situation after another and snowballs. Will he ever straiten it out with his fiancé? And what is to become of the hula girl?

Yes the first thing you will notice is that this is formula. The whole reason we pick a genera is because we like to see variations on a formula; who can do it better and what different twist can be placed in the story and keep it on track. If this had been played with some actor that had to rely on past films reputations like Adam Sandler the film would not work.

My favorite scene was the one where Paul (with a strait face) tells Karen that the panties (obviously used) she is holding came from a bin at a discount store. She dials up the store for verification.
One added plus to the movie is Larry Miller as Minister Ferris who knew or suspected everything and could not tell. See him again when he can really branch out in "Radioland Murders" (1994) and "Undercover Blues" (1993).

First of all i want to point out something that is really disturbing me. You know that movie, My Boss's Daughter. Well go search for it here on amazon and look at the cover than come back to this page and look at the cover of A guy THing, notice anything similiar? Except that old guy in the background instead of Selma Blair. Anyway this movie was one of the best movies I ever saw. Even though I only saw two Jason Lee movies (this and Dreamctacher) he is one of my favorite actors. Even if he's not doing a funny scene you still laugh, and in all his movies he is doing a comedy part even though its not a comedy movie. To really enjoy movies you have to stop trying to be an ass andwatch the movie without trying to make a bad reviwe about it, and if your gonna do that anyway why make a page long bad review? i thought u dont like the movie, than stop going to every stie u can find it on and critiscize it. I love the characters in this movie. And how if u put urself in any of thier positions you know u would do the same. this is a hilarious move watch it, buy it, watch it again, buy it two times if you want, its that great!

This movie is very funny.

Paul and his girlfriend are getting married and Paul's friends throw him a bachelor party with hookers. Paul gets really drunk, and the next morning wakes up with one of the girls in his bed. He throws her out of his apartment thinking he will never see her again.

Several days later he goes to his fiences house for dinner and as it turns out the girl in his bed is his fience's cousin. He keeps on bumping into her and also trys not to let his fience know what happened.

As the big day draws near Paul finds himself more attracted to his fiences cousin, but feels that he has to go on with the wedding. What happens? well just watch the movie and find out

I'm a fan of Julia Stiles, so getting this DVD at the bargain price of £8.99, when every other website was selling it for £11.99, £13.99 and £19.99 was, well, a bargain! But all the laughs fall rather flat I'm afraid. You're predicting what's going to happen to poor old Paul before it even happens!

Jason Lee and Julia Stiles both played their parts well, although it seemed like they were struggling to hold the film up by themselves. Selma Blair was just wrong for her part. Courtney Cox Arquette could have done it much better, as basically, all Selma was doing was playing Monica from Friends. Controlling, annoyingly tidy, very organised, all those kind of things. You know what I mean if you're a fan of Friends. Most of her scenes seemed awkward and dumb, and don't show off any of Selma that we know and love. She's grown up, and is unrecognisable as the gawky girl she was in Cruel Intentions, but she still carries some of that gawkiness around with her in her acting.

The extras and the fact that Paul starts to "forsee" what COULD happen if he tells the truth are the good things about this movie. The forseeing happens intermittantly, not so much that it starts to bug you, but appears without warning, and you think it's happening - but it's not. The extras are hilarious. Especially the interviews with the cast. It has to be seen to be believed, as they start making up how stories about each other (the Jason Lee playing the "diva" and attacking an intern is so funny)

Otherwise, this movie is just a less successful Forces of Nature. Did anyone notice the similarities? I'm sure there's other films like this one, but I can't think of them. I've seen them though.