Glory Daze

Glory Daze released in 1995 is a Gen-X comedy about art students on the verge of graduating Art School, with no direction, and trying to figure out what comes next as the salad days are winding down. The film is the story of five friends; Jack (Ben Affleck), Rob (Sam Rockwell), Slosh (Vien Hong), Mickey (Vinnie DeRamus), and Dennis (French Stewart) who live together in a flop house called El Rancho in Santa Cruz California. The main story follows Jack, who is pathetically obsessed with his ex-girlfriend Dina and who is flailing with his life as he has no direction, or ambition to do anything with his life. He and the rest of the boys keep teetering on the idea of just staying in the house and trying to keep living the life that they are, but coming to the reality that all good things must change, and you can't stay a child forever (other than Slosh who for his life has come to the realization that doing exactly that is the best course for his life as he has made the decision to live his life like a dog with its head out the window, just taking accepting whatever may come). The movie is a comedy, but it is also a really relatable comedy for Gen-X kids like myself who are the first generation to realize that our parents didn't leave us with a world with any possibilities, where we want so hard to live for our passions as we have seen that living for a house an spouse and a career is not living at all, but realizing that a life of dead end work is really all that was left to us. The film also stars the beauty Allysa Millano as Chelsea, who is a friend of the house-mates and who has a thing for the lovable Mickey who is oblivious to her very obvious crush on him. There are also cameos by Matthew McConaughey as a pathetic U-haul salesman, Brenden Fraiser and Leah Remini as an annoying arguing couple on a bus that has a confrontation with Jack, and Matt Damon who has a non speaking role as Edgar "Pudwacker". The best part of this film is by far the soundtrack, which was compiled by The Vandals and released on their Kung Fu Records label. The sound track features tracks by amazing 90s pop punk bands such as: The Vandals, Mr T Experience, Assorted Jelly Beans, Bad Religion, Mudhoney, NOFX, Tilt, Hepcat, New Bomb Turks, The Bouncing Souls, Epoxy, as well as Sublime covering the Bad Religion track that is used in the film, and a great track by the Billy Nayer Show. I heard the soudtrack before I ever watched the movie, and it was one of the greatest soundtracks that I have ever heard, and it became one of my most listened to cds. Part of my deep love for the film might be because of how much I love the soundtrack. The critics really shat all over this film, much like many movies that I love. I will admit some of their critiques are not wrong, but that doesn't mean that the film isn't great, because to me, who find myself identifying with the characters on a personal level, found the movie to be very true to life and relatable. Critics complained that the film is uninspired and unoriginal, and to be fair it isn't the most original film ever, and yes there are more movies that I can count that explore the same theme, but the reason that these types of films keep being made is that they are based off of a relatable theme that many people experience and identify with, and to me this particular film resonates with me more than a similar film like say Animal House does. Though the themes are not original they are real, and the characters play their roles superbly in this film. Honestly this cast is absolutely perfect, and every single one of the characters portrayed reminds me of people I know, which means that they are successfully written and played. Also it is so great seeing all of these young actors together in this film, who would go on to be huge celebrities later in their careers. One thing I must bring up is, Ben Aflfeck's monologue on the beach. This monologue is very similar, and just as uncomfortable to watch as his monologue in Chasing Amy, in someways I almost see his character in Chasing Amy to be his character in Glory Daze after he got a career as a comic book artist, which would actually make sense considering that he graduated from art school here. Whoa, holy shit! Did Jack change his name and move to New Jersey after graduating art school in Santa Cruz!? There are enough similarities between the two roles, that if Kevin Smith came out with this as the back story for that character I would believe it. I don't know what this says about Ben Affleck, that he is a one directional actor, or if he is just really good at playing intense socially awkward characters who don't know how to shut the fuck up, and end up spouting off uncomfortable monologues. "...this is like poet love..." dude seriously let her go, she broke up with you, and is dating someone else, let go, or get some fucking therapy...but that is the thing, I relate to that, because I was that pathetic asshole that couldn't figure out how to let go, I was that pathetic asshole that made long speeches that only made things worse because I too fucking stupid and scared to just let go. That to me honestly makes his character in this film a great character, well written, and expertly played. Because when I was his age, I was the same way, looking at pictures and obsessing over someone who I couldn't have, over the one who left me. Looking back, on it when my first girlfriend broke up with me, I responded almost exactly like Affleck's character. You know, I am going to totally disagree with the critics, because this film is inspired, and this film is actually really well written. But like Affleck's portrayal of Jack, I too had to find myself and realize I needed to learn to grow up. "Thanks for the angst" as he scrolls on the restaurant window, it's time to move on, time to leave behind the girl that got away, time to leave behind the flop house and the desire to hold on to glory days, maybe the salad days are winding down, but life goes on, and we must go on with it. Would I recommend this film? Yes, I don't know if it resonates with me so much because it is a film from my generation, I don't know if Millennials or the current generation will identify as well with this film, so I don't know...but I do think that everyone should see this film. Yeah, there's some toxic masculinity, yes, there is crude humour, yes these guys are assholes sometimes, but the reality is we were fucking idiots in our early 20s, and the film is about recognizing our immaturity and figuring out what to do with it. Should we stay or should we go? This is a film for anyone who has graduated college without a fucking clue as to what they are going to do next, who wants so desperately to hold on to that youthful immaturity, but also realizing that all things must come to an end, and we must figure out what we are going to do with our lives. So yes, this is a film I feel that should be a must see. And even if you don't dig the movie, at least enjoy the amazing soundtrack.