Free Enterprise (1998)
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83% of critics liked it
(23 reviews) -
72% of users liked it
(4,702 ratings)
With a little help from the commander of the Starship Enterprise, two geeky sci-fi buffs venture into the final frontier -- finding a steady girlfriend -- in this satiric comedy. Mark (Eric McCormack) and Rob (Rafer Weigel) are two guys in their late 20s who are emotionally stuck in adolescence;… More With a little help from the commander of the Starship Enterprise, two geeky sci-fi buffs venture into the final frontier -- finding a steady girlfriend -- in this satiric comedy. Mark (Eric McCormack) and Rob (Rafer Weigel) are two guys in their late 20s who are emotionally stuck in adolescence; they're obsessed with science fiction, comics, and collectable toys, and they aren't especially graceful or successful in their relationships with the opposite sex. While both have actually been able to turn their obsessions into careers -- Mark edits a sci-fi fanzine, while Rob works at a film production house -- both feel the need for guidance as they approach 30. As children, they used to imagine themselves being counseled by William Shatner, whose role as Capt. Kirk on Star Trek elevated him to the status of a deity in their eyes. To their amazement, one day Mark and Rob meet Shatner in a bookstore and actually strike up a friendship with him, only to discover that he is just as confused about life, women, and work as they are (though he does confess his burning ambition to produce a new version of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in which he plays all the characters himself). Emboldened by his new friendship with Capt. Kirk -- wait, make that William Shatner -- Rob begins pursuing a romance with Claire (Audie England), a fellow sci-fi fan who is pretty, charming, and a few steps up on the maturity ladder from himself. But this is bad news for Mark, who isn't at all happy to be losing his best friend to some girl. Free Enterprise was the first feature for writer/director Robert Meyer Burnett and screenwriter Mark A. Altman, who freely (and rather bravely) admit that the lead characters are based upon themselves. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Robert Meyer Burnett
- Written By
- Robert Myer Burnett, Mark A. Altman
- Genres
- Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jun 4, 1999 Wide
- Studio
- Regent Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
A celebration of risk-taking in the spirit of the heroism of Captain Kirk.
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Gary Dauphin, Village Voice
A reference-laden but emotionally thin relationship comedy.
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Lawrence Van Gelder, New York Times
The fun of Free Enterprise, which occasionally runs a bit thin but is mostly sustained by the filmmakers' verve and wit, lies in its many visual and verbal references to popular culture trivia.
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James Berardinelli, ReelViews
When compared to other entries from the recent crop of new filmmakers crafting movies about their lives, Free Enterprise stands out as one of the most entertaining and least pretentious efforts.
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David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...uniformly superb performances...
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Rafer Weigel
as Robert
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Eric McCormack
as Mark
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Audie England
as Claire
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Patrick Van Horn
as Sean
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Jonathan Slavin
as Dan Vebber
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Phil LaMarr
as Eric Wallace
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William Shatner
as Bill
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Deborah Van Valkenburgh
as Marlena
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Brandon Kleyla
as Young Kevin
- Thomas Hobson
- Daniel Schweiger
