Freshman Orientation (2005)
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32% of critics liked it
(22 reviews) -
44% of users liked it
(741 ratings)
Can a young man win the hand of the girl of his dreams by convincing her that he prefers the company of men? That's the dilemma facing the protagonist of this independent comedy. Clay (Sam Huntington) was a big man on his high-school campus, but he discovers he's just another nobody when he… More Can a young man win the hand of the girl of his dreams by convincing her that he prefers the company of men? That's the dilemma facing the protagonist of this independent comedy. Clay (Sam Huntington) was a big man on his high-school campus, but he discovers he's just another nobody when he starts his first year of college, and while he expected to be making time with lots of pretty coeds, most of the girls on campus could care less about him. As Clay hopes to improve his social status by rushing a fraternity after his dorm roommate unexpectedly dies, Amanda (Kaitlin Doubleday), another incoming freshman, is similarly hoping to join a sorority, and as part of her initiation she and the other pledges are each instructed to pick up a certain type of "loser" guy for a party where the boys will be humiliated as part of the evening's entertainment. Amanda is supposed to find a guy who is obviously gay, and her friend Jessica (Heather Matarazzo) mistakenly thinks Clay fits the bill. It doesn't take long for Clay to realize what's going on, but he decides to play along if it means going out with a pretty girl, and he gives himself a crash course in gay behavior in hopes of winning Amanda's heart with some help from amiable queer bartender Rodney (John Goodman). Produced under the title Home of Phobia, Freshman Orientation was the first feature film from writer and director Ryan Shiraki. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Ryan Shiraki
- Written By
- Ryan Shiraki
- Genres
- Comedy
R,
- In Theaters
- Aug 31, 2007 Wide
- On DVD
- Aug 19, 2008
- Studio
- Regent Releasing
Critic Reviews
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Joshua Katzman, Chicago Reader
John Goodman has a nice turn as a queen with a heart of gold.
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Lou Lumenick, New York Post
...goes way over the top for the Greeks vs. Gays climax.
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Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
A campus comedy with a dirty mouth, an innocent heart and a surprisingly wise mind, Freshman Orientation uses identity politics as a road to romance and emotional maturity. The naked breasts are a bonus.
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Bill Stamets, Chicago Sun-Times
This trivial film toys with the postmodern lifestyles.
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Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
Freshman Orientation is not incompetently made. Nor is it badly acted. But there's not a fresh idea in it, and everyone on screen seems to be in a different comedy.
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Cast
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Sam Huntington
as Clay
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Marla Sokoloff
as Marjorie
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Mike Erwin
as Matt
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Heather Matarazzo
as Jessica
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Kaitlin Doubleday
as Amanda
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Bryce Johnson
as Tazwell
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Judy Tylor
as Serena
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Rachel Dratch
as Very Drunk Chick
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John Goodman
as Rodney
