Jesse (Ashton Kutcher) and Chester (Sean William Scott) are in deep trouble!
After finally throwing the perfect party, they wake up the next morning with the frightening realization that they've forgotten their girlfriends' anniversaries, trashed the house, and left a trail of destruction through town. The worst part is that they can't remember a thing they did when they got "wasted", and have to find their car with some anniversary gifts before their girlfriends break up with them.
The two friends thus embark upon an elevating journey through town to retrace their steps and find the car that holds their redemption. Through this marathon, they realize that they had come across a significant amount of money and spent most of it in partying at strip joints, video parlors and all sorts of new friends.
However, before the guys have the chance to celebrate their newfound popularity, events are further complicated by the arrival of several alien cultist wannabes who demand the whereabouts of the "Continuum Transfunctioner", an alien gizmo which holds the key to the destruction of the entire universe...
Needless to say that they get the chicks, beat the bad guys and save planet Earth from the clutches of the "evil alien babes"...but dude, will they ever find their car?
The movie is an outlandish addition to the teenage comedy genre, which features cult hits like "Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey" and "Dead Man on Campus". The director has tried to establish a screenplay that represents two guys who capture the comedic essence of Generation X, and is somewhat of a deviation from the romantic undertones usually found in such films. Most of the cast has had significant experience with comedy and the movie is a modest extension of their capabilities. Ashton Kutcher, whose reputation on "That 70s Show" precedes him, is about as clueless as his role demands, and Sean William Scott brings in reels of laughter as a "stoner" looking for a good time.
The film's ludicrous plot may ensure only a small (but receptive) adolescent audience in the theatres, and the more orthodox elements would be well advised to leave their inhibitions at the door for this party.
This article was first published on26 Mar 2001.