Bickford Shmeckler’s Cool Ideas
D: Scott Lew; with Patrick Fugit, Olivia Wilde, Matthew Lillard, Cheryl Hines, John Cho, Fran Kranz
His actual ideas are sophomoric cosmo-babble, but this genial farce loves its titular hero (Fugit), a frat-house basement dweller whose journal falls through the hands of a free-spirit art slut (Wilde, lately of The O.C.) and into the arms of an adoring public. Sorority girls love the book. Physics professors love the book. And, of course, the D&D geeks (including Harold and Kumar‘s Cho) love the book. But can Bickford stop being such a self-absorbed perfectionist and learn to party down? An old-school campus comedy with an earnest be-yourself vibe, Bickford is an assured first feature for former Beacon Pictures exec Lew, with a winning cast and an infectious spirit. Wilde is a bit at sea in her underwritten party-girl role, and the movie doesn’t really offer any profound insights, but it’s got heart. Fugit is just perfect: so tightly wound he falls over often, but chicly nerdy enough to inspire worship from the chaotic neutrals at Radio Shack.
6:45pm, Alamo South Lamar
This article appears in March 17 • 2006.