Bickford Shmeckler's Cool Ideas (2006)

When a sexy co-ed (Olivia Wilde) steals a book of mind-blowing theories written by brilliant but troubled college student Bickford Shmeckler (Patrick Fugit) his world is turned upside down. From the creators of American Pie this wild rollercoaster ride to reclaim his book is an award winning clever comedy staring some of today's hottest stars.System Requirements:Running Time: 80 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: R UPC: 025195012300 Manufacturer No: 68101435 Product Description

Awesome Flick That Didn't Get Much Press

The thing about Patrick Fugit is that since his role in Almost Famous we haven't seen him much. Mostly he has been in television programs and movies like Saved, which received far more press than this film, but did not have him as the main character. Although this film will not be filed away in the archives of fabulous film-making, I feel that it has some merit and is worth watching. I first saw it on Comedy Central, and I knew that I would like the story, which is a "boy-meets-girl" type, but with an added twist, as the film involves a brilliant but stressed out college kid with mysterious problems--the attractive blonde fills in the rest. Not an excellent plot, but funny and a "feel good" movie. If you have the time to spare, check it out. August 16, 2008

Cool and funny if unoriginal film

Bickford Schmeckler (Patrick Fugit) is a tortured genius who lives in the basement of a noisy dorm. Rarely does he venture upstairs and try to talk to any of his peers since he feels that they are all intellectually inferior than him. Frustrated by being unable to connect with anyone he keeps a book of his cool and revolutionary ideas. One night at one of these parties he does venture upstairs and meets a very hot and high sorority sister Sarah (Olivia Wilde). She flirts with Bickford before he gets bored and leaves her to walk down to his room and steal his book. Bickford feels emotionally raped by this invasion of his privacy and begins hunting Sarah down to get his property back. Unfortunately for him Sarah has passed it on to her jock boyfriend. He is unimpressed with Bickford's ideas and tosses the book in the trash. It is picked up by a homeless schizophrenic (Matthew Lillard) who is convinced that anyone who could write something like this could help him defeat the aliens who are tormenting him. Bickford grudgingly agrees to help him in return for his book. The book is now in the hands of a group of Dungeons and Dragons enthusiasts. One member (John Cho) finds the book so enlightening that he decides there is more to life than the game and makes it his mission to share the message with other students and distributes the book now made into pamphlets to everyone on campus. The book finally winds up in the hands of one of Bickford's professor (Cheryl Hines) who feels her teachings inspired Bickford to write the book. Bickford's reasons for being so reclusive and removed are a secret family trauma not much different from the dilemma plaguing the numb hero of Garden State. Just like in that film it takes a hot chick to show interest in this depressed guy who shows him how to start living again and being happy. When the woman trying to cheer you up is as hot as Olivia Wilde is its not difficult to imagine her succeeding. The film is not very original but it has such a winning cast who all give good performances that the film is just very fun. The only extra on the disc is a preview for a documentary made about the film's director Scott Lew who has ALS. Knowing what a struggle it was for him to make this film you can appreciate the message of the film a whole lot more. April 11, 2008

the meaning of colored smoke

Are you caught up in trying to understand your
context and meaning? Sometimes it seems the point
is that living is more important than knowing everything.
Enjoying life is more than just the grind of existence.
Not everybody can find a beautiful girl who loves your
intellect, but we all love that Bickford Smeckler did... February 28, 2008

Braingasm

Patrick Fugit is Bickford Schmeckler, a loner who lives in the basement of a busy frat house, writing down his "cool ideas" in a large metal book. Olivia Wilde is the beautiful (and smart) girl who throws his world into a tailspin by stealing it from his room. When further mischief gets his book published and distributed around campus, Bickford must come to terms with his own behavior, and decide whether to live his ideas or keep them locked away in his book.

Of course, the hot chick and nerd hook up. He won't stop acting like an emo kid and she dumps him. They get back together, kiss kiss, make-up garbage. And to think, all he had to do was write a "sex poem".

This film is for the most part, funny and light-hearted. Director Scott Lew packs a lot of typical college humor in (party mishaps, D&D geeks who hang out in a comic shop - one of which is John Cho from Harold & Kumar!, etc.), but it all works -- I even found the bits with Matthew Lillard as a campus misfit named "Spaceman" enjoyable. Where it goes slightly awry is when it tries to introduce some seriousness in the form of why Bickford is so socially-challenged. Adding in emotional conflicts seemed to halt the story and put too dark a slant on the intent. The director was suffering from ALS when the movie was being made.

I did like the made up word "braingasm"....the dorky D&D kids in this sadly reminded me of some of my AP classes in high school.

Still, Fugit pulls it all off with his sideways smile and adorable quirkiness (although, I am starting to wonder if he falls down in every movie on purpose, or if he's just clumsy). So, if you're in the mood for something cute, funny, and light, Bickford is good for a once-over. It will make you laugh, and it's worth watching just to see Fugit do what he does best.

What I found amusing most of all was the legion of followers he gains from just being crazy and writing random things down in "The Book".

One more added note: Bickford had the BEST t-shirts ever. January 29, 2008

A Different Kind of College Comedy

A nerdy college outcast , Bickford Shmeckler (Patrick Fugit of Almost Famous fame) has written a book of ideas about the nature of existence that would make the average persons head spin. While pondering an ending to his book, a sorority girl, Sarah (Olivia Wilde) "borrows" the book and is blown away by it's insights. She gives the book to a friend, who gives to another person and another until Bickford's writings are being passed all around campus.

As he hunts down his prized possession he has the joy of being introduced to a few strange characters that have come into contact with the book. Matthew Lillard is a crazy homeless guy who believes in extra-terrestrial beings who control his thoughts and thinks Bickford can get them to leave. John Cho leads an AD&D group that drops everything to spread the gospel of the book (a la Mao's little red book). It turns out everyone who reads the book either has a mental orgasm or feels enlightened by the thoughts on life, the universe and everything. Bickford has become a reluctant star, messiah and object of desire.

Casting Patrick Fugit in the lead role was an interesting choice, but good one. He's a brooding emo kid with issues who also happens to be a philosophical genius. Bickford has a troubled past and a high-anxiety present, but Fugit plays him with enough of a light touch that he comes as across as more funny than sad. Early on, Bickford seems pretentious and anti-social; simply obsessed with getting the book back. Slowly he learns that there are more important things than pondering the meaning of the universe. As he openes up to the world, we see more of what makes this guy tick.

In all, this isn't your typical college comedy filled with drinking and nudity. It's offbeat, and that's what makes it interesting from your run of the mill American Pie formula of comedies. It's worth checking out for a different take on the same old thing.


January 8, 2008

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