Customer Reviews

Roger Dodger

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Great dialogue and perfect casting made this film work so well. "Roger Dodger" made me realize that in our ADD-plagued world, people don't listen very well. What a shame, though a sharp tongue can be your downfall along with the habit of botching the dreams of others. Lots going on here and a clever resolution at the end is unexpectedly welcome-nearly perfect.

Michael Duranko
www.bootism.com

This is a fun "art house" movie. Fun because the script is tight and the acting top notch and you know from the start you are in the hands of a good director. Just the kind of thing you want from a night at an art house: not a message movie like many such films but instead in-your-face film making - and three cheers for that. Campbell Scott plays the smooth player who tutors his nephew Nick (Jesse Eisenberg) on how to get laid. The action takes place mostly in one night of bar and party hopping. This script is so good that any bar lizard could learn from the lines and strategy used by Scott's character. Scott's character is an accomplished and dedicated player who never sees the wrong in his ways and that is the delicious and honest part of the film. One review talked about the player venting his anger at women but my take was that he stayed in control the entire movie, venting naturally (and within limits) when he was thrown over by his boss/lover. Like him or hate him, the player is a pro from beginning to end. The viewer has to decide whether he likes or dislikes women. In the final analysis what matters is how well Campbell Scott's character plays the game and he is a rodger dodger in an age of Politically Correct repression. How refreshing! Five stars out of five.

A film by Dylan Kidd

The movie opens with Roger (Campbell Scott) sitting in a café with his coworkers and speaking exactly what is on his mind and the topic is women and how destructive women will be to men and a male society. This is interesting stuff and perfectly shows just how far out there Roger is and what his point of view is on life and women. He really believes what he is saying.

After he is dumped by his lover, who happens to be his boss, Roger returns to his office at work and finds his nephew Nick (Jesse Eisenberg) standing there, waiting. With a little bit of prompting, Roger takes Nick out on the town with the intent on teaching Nick about women and to help Nick with his first "conquest". What we have is a mixing of Nick's hesitant, nervous innocence with Roger's scorn, confidence, and perhaps even distaste for women as anything but an object to acquire.

Considering what the subject matter is, I did not expect to like this movie very much. I was surprised. The dialogue is sharp, and it is easy to see why this movie was produced, the screenplay must have been a real gem to find. Visually, "Roger Dodger" is not much to look at, but the performances and the dialogue help it to rise above what it could have been. "Roger Dodger" also co-stars Isabella Rossellini and Elizabeth Berkley.

-Joe Sherry

Because I only watched 30 minutes! Then I watched the rest on fast forward. The 30 minutes I watched at normal speed, I multitasked with the subtitles on, surfing between audio options (normal, commentary of director and camera guy(?), commentary with director and actors).

From the start of Roger Dodger, everything screamed "film!!!" Not "story," and not "characters to follow," but "film!!!". The cameras added realism -- if you're a bobble-head. The dialogue (clever by half) made me visualize the writers with their pens and pads. And the cameos by Elizabeth B. and Jennifer Beals (best darn actress/welder ever!) seemed maybe a bit neo-Tarantino... a distraction... but by that time I was fast forwarding. (Yup, they look *real* good, keep forwarding).

I'm giving two stars instead of one because there was nothing offensive, and the movie is not a cynical grab for fame or fortune. It seems to be made with good intentions. Main criticism, again: The technique and sometimes over-clever lines get between the viewer and story. And I didn't feel strongly about any character, one way or another. (The main character wasn't *that* bad). American Psycho's Patrick Bateman (Roger in two more years if he doesn't get therapy) made me feel *something*, but Roger made me blank. By the way, Roger seems like some early Bill Murray characters (SNL and Meatballs) -- the mock arrogant, pseudo-smooth, know it all... except Roger doesn't have the mock part down. (Murray may have made this film a killer comedy).

In short, the movie wears its "filmness" on its sleeve, and there's not much entertainment to back it up. I must say though, for film students the educational commentaries may be right down your alley. (Glad I'm not in a film class, where I'd probably have to applaud this stuff to get a good grade). Now I can go back to watching Night at the Roxbury. Peace out!

hard hitting dialogue, and utterly compelling acting by the male lead, make this a film to remember.

Full of attitude, this is a no compromise piece of work.

A fair critism, would be to say that the camera work is very shake quite a lot of the time, the use of what seems handheld camera is almost amateurish, and made me feel a bit sea sick, as it shakes around as you watch the scene.

No doubt a low budget , and not A rate camera operator are to blame here.

A real shame, as with 1st class lighting and camerwork, this couldve been even better.

Very original, not just a tarantino rip-off, but genuine and stark views that must've been held by the writer.

I loved it, it has some very witty and funny moments, especially the closing scenes at the school hall.

Wonderfull, but this writer/director needs better cameras and camera men, and soon please.

Roger, cynical advertising specialist, is dumped by his girlfriend/boss as he has difficulty growing up, or at least it seems that is why she broke up with him. During this rough time Roger has a visit from his nephew, Nick, who struggles with how to approach women, which is something Roger is a self-proclaimed specialist in. This brings Roger and Nick on a quest for sin and pleasure that goes astray. Roger Dodger is a well written story with several cynical insights that lead the characters through a coming of age story that offers a pretty good cinematic experience.

Clever film with a raging script that reminds one of conversations that go on when people really say what they are thinking--in this case, mostly what Scott has to say. Scott is brilliant as the misogynistic Roger, who on a whim decides to show his visiting nephew what it is really all about.

A few lapses here and there and not all parts of the film fire well, but over all it is unusually clever with a large amount of credibility. The bar scenes feel fairly reminiscent of a real bar and we can almost believe that Roger would have been there, showing his young charge the ropes ( as he sees them, at any rate). First rate fun, might make you wince a bit.

Well, I have the VHS version, so this is what I am reviewing. Also, I haven't finished the movie yet--but it's great. Campbell Scott is great. I was expecting a silly PORKYS flick. BOY WAS I SURPRISED!

Roger Dodger is a look at a man and his nephew as the man, Roger(played awesomely and great by the wonderful Campbell Scott(Big Night)) shows his nephew, Nick(Jesse Eisenberg(The Empereors Club), really great also) into the world of picking up chicks. great performances all around..the ladies are top notch. other cast members include Jessica Beals(Vampire's Kiss), Izabella Rosselini(Death Becomes Her), Elizabeth Berkely(Showgirls) and Ben Sheknman(Jesus' Son). wonderful and daring...its a masterpiece

Maybe I just don't get it...I found this movie to be boring and draining. It opens with a scene of C. Scott talking and smoking while he supposedly holds a rapt audience of his co-workers in his grasp. I kept expecting it to end and cut to something at least a little interesting but it kept on and on and on and...well you get the idea. The dialogue is bland and labored, and it just felt like it was trying to be TOO smart and TOO important or something. Like I said, I guess I just don't get it. The character of Roger's nephew was a bright spot, and the DVD extras are ambitious, but obviously not very entertaining if you didn't enjoy the movie. I would have to say avoid - nothing is really missed by missing this movie.