The New Guy (2002)
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6% of critics liked it
(93 reviews) -
57% of users liked it
(65,369 ratings)
Former Prada model and Road Trip co-star D.J. Qualls makes a bid for leading man status in this nerd-makeover comedy. Qualls stars as Dizzy, a dorky but delinquent high school student who's determined to get expelled from his hellish high school -- but ends up landing in jail instead. There he… More Former Prada model and Road Trip co-star D.J. Qualls makes a bid for leading man status in this nerd-makeover comedy. Qualls stars as Dizzy, a dorky but delinquent high school student who's determined to get expelled from his hellish high school -- but ends up landing in jail instead. There he meets the intimidating, street-smart Luther (Eddie Griffin), himself a former geek, who takes Dizzy under his wing to teach him the art of being cool. Soon Luther and his pals have broken Dizzy of his meek, maladroit ways, and Dizzy is ready to start a new life at a new high school under a new name: Gil Harris. When Gil arrives at East Highland High -- his former inmate reputation known to all -- he quickly ingratiates himself with the cool kids and lays to waste any jocks who stand in his way. He even manages to date the school's most coveted girl, Danielle (Eliza Dushku). But when a face from his past shows up, it seems that his facade as the big man on campus may be about to crumble. The New Guy also stars Zooey Deschanel and Lyle Lovett, and features cameos from rockers Henry Rollins, Gene Simmons, and Tommy Lee. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
- Directed By
- Ed Decter
- Written By
- David Kendall
- Genres
- Comedy
PG-13,
- In Theaters
- May 7, 2002 Wide
- Studio
- Columbia Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Robert Koehler, Variety
Distinguished by certain rodent-like features, Qualls is a bargain-basement, pre-adult version of David Spade -- and becomes just as tiresome.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
It isn't very good, but it doesn't seem to care, which turns out to be rather refreshing.
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, Time Out
Shot on low-res digital video, this cutprice tale of the unexpected is broadly predictable and increasingly one note, but passable sadistic fun.
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Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Never gets on the good foot.
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Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
Bad beyond belief and ridiculous beyond description.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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D.J. Qualls
as Dizzy Harrison/Gil Harris
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Eliza Dushku
as Danielle
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Zooey Deschanel
as Nora
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Lyle Lovett
as Bear Harrison
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Jerod Mixon
as Kirk
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Illeana Douglas
as Kiki Pierce
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Parry Shen
as Glen
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Kurt Fuller
as Mr. Undine
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Julius J. Carry III
as Coach
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M.C. Gainey
as Clem
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Eddie Griffin
as Luther
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Sunny Mabrey
as Courtney
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Ross Patterson
as Conner
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Matt Gogin
as Ed Ligget
- Horatio Sanz
- Tony Hawk
- Jerry O'Connell
- Charlie O'Connell
- Gene Simmons
- Tommy Lee
- Kool Moe Dee
- Jermaine D. Maudlin
- Josh Todd
- Vanilla Ice
- Henry Rollins
- David Hasselhoff
