Morgan and jason are two of the most ineligible bachelors in town. When a good friend submits to the vows of matrimony the two truth-seekers reluctantly travel home for the wedding. While there jason falls for an old girlf... more »iend and morgan meets his match a stripper with a mind as sharp as her stilettoes. Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 03/22/2005 Starring: Shannon Elizabeth Brian Dennehy Rating: R Director: Robert Kubilos« less
Amanda M. (daymoth) from FORT SMITH, AR Reviewed on 1/22/2010...
One of my favorites ever. A fun, sweet, & unique comedy. Not to be missed!
Movie Reviews
I'm the original screenwriter of this movie
business@sourgrapes.org | Los Angeles | 02/08/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Although the movie being sold here today hardly resembles the original screenplay that me and Nathan wrote, it does offer some really good lessons about how scripts go from paper to celluloid. In the spring of 1997 me and Nathan optioned our script to the producers. They were determined to make our movie and told us that very little re-writing was needed. But by the time the script was filmed they had done massive re-writing and brought in a director with a completely different artistic sensibility. We were of course upset with all the changes that we felt detracted from the script, but ultimately were happy to accept the money they paid us for it. You want a review of this movie? well that's it: "we were happy to accept the money that they paid us for it."The film is very loosely based on our script. It's all the same characters and basically the same story but a lot of the situations, dialogue and locations have been condensed. I never really heard from the producers and what they thought of the movie-- it's not terrible, but it's not really good either. It's just okay. Ultimately they have to take responsibility for that. In their defense, our original script did have problems, they just weren't able to fix them. And perhaps we didn't write the most shootable script for the budget either, which caused a lot of the cutting. They did have one lucky break, which was just blind luck-- they cast Shannon Elizabeth. I think this is about the first thing she ever did, and I'm pretty sure it's the only reason this movie ever got picked up for distribution.If anyone has any interest in reading the original script just e-mail me and I'll send it to you. Then, you can judge for yourself which version is better. I think it would be a great lesson for anyone who thinks they want to write a screenplay or anyone who ever watches a movie and says, "how the hell did this get made." I think it's a great example of how the best intentions can end up a diluted mess. Ashleyscottmeyers@hotmail.comAMAZON editors: I hope this is useful to your readers. I think it will be. Feel free to edit it in any way."
Good vehicle for a bright new comic actress.
D. Mok | Los Angeles, CA | 09/10/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"American Pie's Shannon Elizabeth finally gets the substantial role she deserves -- and though Dish Dogs does take advantage of her marvellous physical beauty and figure, it also gives Elizabeth the opportunity to show the comic timing and screen presence previously only hinted at. Elizabeth gives the film its best moments, easily: When Antoinette throws Morgan (Sean Astin) out of her house after they'd just slept together, and the final parking-lot confrontation. Her rapid-fire delivery and slapstick instincts (and good writing in the scene) make this the gem of the movie.Astin's character isn't that much different from what he's been playing for the past half decade or so, and the male characters' endless philosophical banter gets tiring. But the sight gags and jokes (the dishwasher gag, the aforementioned "heads or tails" scene, the cut from the strip bar to the wedding) work very well, and Dish Dogs also benefits from the same attribute that made American Pie good, an old-fashioned sweetness. Underneath the stripbar setting and the strange yet intriguing shadowy cinematography lies a basic boy-meets-girl movie whose only real fault is occasional corniness, and thanks to some unusually smart and self-assertive love interests for our heroes (Antoinette carries a gun and isn't afraid to use it), Dish Dogs is an enjoyable movie."
Dish Dogs...Could've Been Worse
Jeremy Franklin | Mechanicsville VA, USA | 06/11/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
"The basic plot deals with two young men Morgan (played by Sean Astin) and Jason (played by Matthew Lillard). They have been friends for years, and now choose to travel America washing dishes from town to town, free of any obligations, so they can study philosophy and try to reach their "ephinany". Morgan, the more serious one, is really into this. Jason, is in it for the fun, and the girls along the way. The one rule they have is nothing perminate, especially relationships. Their mentor is played by Brian Dennehy, and Richard Moll, Shannon Elizabeth, and Maitland Ward are also in the cast. Others would call it a coming of age, unromantic comedy, which deals with how people approaching their late 20's deal with love, and melting the "mind and body / heart and head together. But I would call it a total chick flick but with guys. It follows the two guys adventures, who in the beginning have to come off the road to attend one of their best friends weddings, and to make matters worse, Morgan must be the best man. This unleashes in them the reexamination of what they are doing, and how they live their lives, and what they each want out of it. In the end, each finds their own "new equalilbrim", both different, yet both equally valid. They have learned to accept life on it's own terms, and not what they read in a book by some author who's been dead for hundreds of years. They are now living up to their potential, but on their own terms. Overall, this movie could've done better. The whole plot with washing dishes made absolutely no sense to me. But, whatever. The only thing that shines in this movie is Matthew Lillard's over the top performance as Jason, the fun, woman swindling, guy that acts as most of the film's comic relief. Don't buy this movie. Just rent it on video or dvd."
A pretty good movie!
Arielle | Everett, MA USA | 02/18/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I rented this movie primarily to see Sean Astin. I thought it was a pretty good movie. It was kinda boring in the beginning but it gets better further into the movie. I wasn't sure if I wanted to buy this until after I finished watching it and my sister said she loved it. Sean Astin & Matthew Lillard are great together in this movie. Shannon Elizabeth did a pretty good job and I think her and Sean are cute together. I would give this movie 4 stars. It's a pretty good movie."
A great film!
Jeremy Franklin | 07/28/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"this film rocks. dont let anyone tell you otherwise.
the plot is completely original (a rare thing these days) and is funny, cute and very entertaining. Sean Astin, as usual, is brilliant, funny and manages to get the audience to side with him despite his character being a bit... odd. Even Matthew Lillard, who i normally find intensely irritating, is very watchable. The chemistry between the two of them is brilliant (hell, they're more entertaining than Astin getting it together with Shannon Elizabeth...)
A very entertaining film, definitely worth a watch!"