North Texas Daily

Harrison Long | Opinion Editor

@HarrisonGLong

Having been hailed as the “spiritual sequel” to 1993’s cult hit “Dazed and Confused,” it isn’t too difficult to understand the skepticism many held anticipating Richard Linklater’s latest film about teenage debauchery.

How do you take a period-piece as uniquely raunchy and hilarious as “Dazed” and ever hope to replicate it? Do you follow the model of the previous film or break off into an entirely new entity, albeit to the tune of a plot-less recount of non-stop partying?

Fortunately for moviegoers, Linklater chose the latter (no pun intended) in making a follow-up that plays far more into the “spiritual” aspect than the “sequel” one. “Everybody Wants Some!!” is a movie entirely its own animal, and will quite possibly stand up to the years as well as its predecessor. While it does take heed of the elements which made the first film so loveable — an “aww-shucks” nice guy who likes to party, a perfectly assembled entourage of misfits scorching paths alongside the lead, hapless adults without a clue — this is as far as the similarity goes.

The narrative is centered on Jake, a conspicuously-skinny, college-baseball-playing freshman who arrives at the fictional Texas Southeastern University with an itch to not only party and run the diamond, but to experience all that life has to offer. Set to a 1980 backdrop, audiences will watch some of the quintessential characteristics of the time period from creepily-thin mustaches to shorter-than-short short shorts and the unspoken optimism of finally being able to leave the wasteland of the 1970’s behind.

Though not all of the characters are fully expounded upon, all are shown in such a way that is just enough to keep the viewer wanting more. Even those with only a few lines will have audiences cackling with laughter in the witty banter one would expect from a group of half-drunk, overconfident young men with too much time on their hands. Set to a soundtrack as equally reminiscent as“Dazed,” audiences will find themselves strapped in for a fun two-hour ride.

The story takes place over the final three days before the fall semester begins, and as we watch in awe as the guys – all of whom are baseball players for the school – take to the town’s nightlife and understandably finding mischief wherever they go.

From a disco to a cotton-eye-joe laden country tavern to a punk-metal garage concert, it is far too difficult to predict the next move of the ensemble to attempt to do so and enjoy the movie. Though the dialogue is biting and witty and the content delightfully degenerate, this film is meant to be savored. Despite some of its more philosophical undertones that are softly touched upon in the second half, you will find yourself having fun without being preached to.

Like “Dazed,” this film is meant to be fun with just a hint of depth, meaning that while it might inspire viewers to think about concepts such as discovering life’s possibilities while in college, it certainly is not a requirement for walking away from it with a smile. It isn’t lazy, it isn’t campy (no beer pong!) and has just the right amount of depravity to make it believable without going off the deep end.

“Everybody Wants Some!!” is a welcome addition to a collection those few top tier films about adolescents and their mischievous ways. It doesn’t try to be something other than what it is — a college movie about partying to follow up a high school movie about the same thing. Clear some space on your shelf next to “Dazed,” “Animal House” and “Superbad” — this is one you are going to want to see more than once.

The film is set to be released Apr. 8, 2016. Check out the trailer below: