nbt: Never Been Thawed (2004)

58% of critics liked it
(24 reviews)
62% of users liked it
(209 ratings)

Shawn has been collecting frozen dinners since he was twelve. Today he works part-time as a dental hygienist to cover the cost of operating fourteen full-sized freezers in a one bedroom apartment. Shawn is the founder of the Mesa Frozen Entrée Enthusiasts' Club, a small group of fanatical collectors… More Shawn has been collecting frozen dinners since he was twelve. Today he works part-time as a dental hygienist to cover the cost of operating fourteen full-sized freezers in a one bedroom apartment. Shawn is the founder of the Mesa Frozen Entrée Enthusiasts' Club, a small group of fanatical collectors determined to host the world's first Frozen Entrée Enthusiasts' Convention. Shelly became infatuated with Shawn and joined the club after seeing him sing with his band. In a shameless bid for money and fame, Shawn had recently "converted" his obscene punk band to Christian rock. Shelly, a counselor on an Intercourse Prevention Hotline, a devout Christian and proud virgin was smitten by Shawn's "Christian bad-boy" image. Al, the bass player, questions his bands new direction. He belongs to Shawn's club primarily to foster his secret crush on Shelly. Al's prospects are not helped by the fact that he lives with his parents and works as a "smilist" at Klown Kutz.Milo, the band's manager, owns the No Choice Café - an anti-abortion themed Christian café located across the street from an abortion clinic. Milo believes Shawn's band is ready for the Christian Big Time and has set up a showcase performance for Holy Trinity Records. Meanwhile, Vince, the club's wealthiest member, has assembled an entrée collection that may soon rival Shawn's. Vince's impressive collection makes him a serious threat to Shawn's authority. NBT is a hilarious, dark and smart look at the subcultures that can turn each of us into fans, followers and serious dorks.© -- Slippery Chicken Pictures

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: Sean Anders
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 1, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Jan 17, 2006

Critic Reviews

Neva Chonin, San Francisco Chronicle
What we're left with is a movie filled with cultural gags that mock without achieving the level of good satire. Sometimes, alas, being funny just isn't enough.
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
Never Been Thawed displays moments of cleverness but not enough to sustain its feature-length running time.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
Wickedly funny and subversive.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
Painfully unfunny.
Jami Bernard, New York Daily News
Satire requires a lighter touch and less reliance on vulgar language for shock effect.
John Anderson, Newsday
Essentially an exercise in the humor of hypocrisy and sketch comedy woven into a coherent whole.
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher
You've heard about geeks who collect all sorts of weird things, but frozen TV dinners?
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
The jokes are all the same joke, and it wears thin over the course of 80 minutes.
Mark R. Leeper, Mark Leeper's Reviews
This is an often hilarious and painfully on-target mockumentary about people who are pulled into special interest cults like "Star Trek" or, in this case, frozen entree fandom.
Eric Monder, Film Journal International
When the film works, it works well, and there should be enough novel material to satisfy fans of the mockumentary subgenre.
Bob Strauss, Los Angeles Daily News
It's just hilarious enough to overcome its limitations -- and even, occasionally, make them part of its unforgiving worldview.
Ron Wilkinson, Monsters and Critics
The Hungry Man deluxe of frozen entree mocumentaries, Anders and LeVinus break the seal on freshness with the sleeper slacker comedy of the year.
Chuck Wilson, L.A. Weekly
Never Been Thawed has no stylistic flair and little forward momentum, yet nearly every scene contains an amusing bit of business, much of it off to the side of the main action.