Everybody Wants Some!! [DVD] [2016]

I love how people do absolutely no research before investing time and money into a movie and then go and crud all over it because they didn't know what they were getting into! If you've ever seen a Linklater film, you'll know that many of them are realistic character studies. They deal with interpersonal relationships and existentialism. They famously have very little "story" elements that characterize modern cinema and that is why many people are drawn to his films. Slacker, Dazed and Confused, Waking Life, even all his Ethan Hawke movies are based solely in providing the experience of real life reflected back at the viewer. He makes you forget who you are for a while and let's you wholly experience someone else's ego, id, fears, hopes, and triumphs. Everybody Wants Some!! does everything good Linklater films do. It engrosses, it engages, it has a deep love and respect for it's characters while not praising their actions or condemning them. It exists as a snapshot of these people at this time in this location doing what they do. Now here's where the backlash from most reviewers comes from; this film is about a college baseball team in Texas in 1980, and the ultra competitive, beer swilling, girl chasing, partying that accompanies said team. If you dislike machismo, or competition, or sports, or partying, or think anything relating to being dude-bro-jock-frat types is a horrific societal crime, then DON'T WATCH THIS FILM!!! I think people have targeted this movie and are using it as a platform to make their stand against competitive male behavior. If that bothers you, you need to think about why confident, good looking men who get laid, make you uncomfortable. It says much more about you than them or the filmmaker. I found the film to be completely enjoyable, totally relatable (my uncle literally met my aunt in 1980 by cruising around in his car talking to girls), the characters realistic (with some slight touches of fantasy: most college freshman aren't nearly as put together as the male and female lead roles) and their interactions and experiences fun, empathetic, and life-affirming. The year 1980 was awesomely represented through the bars, dress, and music (fantastic use of Pink Floyd's deep cut "Fearless"). The acting was excellent and many times through the movie I found myself saying, "That guy needs to get more work!" There are some existential conversations that speak to Linklater's love of the topic but then with nary a second thought he brilliantly concedes to the meat-headedness of a college ballplayer by giving the dumbest member of the crew these lines; "Who ARE all these people?...Like I know what we're doing here. We're playing baseball. But what are all these other guys doing here?...They'll just be some dude with some job..." Linklater also does a good job of giving individual personalities to each member of the team beyond the normal, "he's the funny guy, he's the sweet guy, he's the ladies man, he's the narcissist". They all humble each other daily which makes them a team with no overt pretentions or animosity (except in the case of the new pitcher who swears he can throw 95 mph!) just a desperation to win and really gives a realistic sense of team and living dynamics. In closing, if you enjoy Linklater's earlier works you'll have no problems with Everybody Wants Some!!. If you need a traditional three act Hollywood comedy full of ridiculously over the top antics look elsewhere. If you hate any semblance of competitive male-ness, stay far away! If you want to experience three days in the lives of this college baseball team from Texas in 1980 check this out! I was thoroughly entertained and not at all disappointed! Highly recommended to anyone who knows what they're getting into

If you loved any of the Dazed, Before, or Boyhood films you will enjoy this.

Awesome movie. It’s kind of like dazed and confused which is also one of my favorite movies.

Richard Linklater has made a sort of spiritual sequel to Dazed and Confused and Boyhood with his newest film, Everybody Wants Some!! Everybody Wants Some!! is about a group of college baseball players and the times they spend together in the final weekend before class begins. The main character is Jake (played by Blake Jenner), a freshman pitcher who arrives to college. It feels like a sequel to Dazed and Confused in the sense that it is the same kind of feel and spirit, and that it is more about spending time with the characters. At the same time, it is sort of a sequel to Boyhood in that this film starts in a similar way where Boyhood ended, which is the main character meeting his new roommates and a girl. The rest of the cast is fun all around. The standouts of the teammates are Glen Powell, Tyler Hoechlin, and Wyatt Russell. Also standing out is Zoey Deutch who plays Beverly, a fellow freshman and performing arts major who notices Jake and vice versa.

Purchased this being a fan of Richard Linklater's ( Before Sunrise trilogy & School of Rock). This film was an unofficial sequel to Dazed and Confused. Moving from the 70's into the 80's. This one may not have the hype and cult following as its predecessor. But deserves to be watched and appreciated. I thought it was quite fun and rewarding.

An endlessly fun look at early 80's America through the lens of a group of college baseball players

its just a great feel good movie all around, love it

I've always been a fan of Richard Linklater, and while this certainly isn't his best film ever, it's still a fun one to watch. It's sort of an indirect sequel to Dazed and Confused, where that one took place in the 70s, and Everybody Wants Some is in the 80s. I would recommend this movie to people who enjoy the coming-of-age type of movies.