Your opinion of "Free Enterprise": Over a decade later...

[AFEK ESLCAFE W]

What is your opinion of the cult film "Free Enterprise" over a decade later since its premiere?

"Free Enterprise" - http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/freeenterprise.php

 

[BillJ]

Never saw it...

 

[Kemaiku]

It has it's moments, Shatner is pretty funny and does what he can with the material. But the film is terrible.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I just got the two disk special edition at Big Lots for $5 a few weeks ago and, once I mentally replaced laserdisks with Blu-rays, I really enjoyed it.

I guess my biggest problem is that while it is very clever, it is not quite as clever as it thinks it is, and there are some moments that are screaming "look how good the writing is" and they'd rather make that statement instead of "look how affectionate and genuinely moved my our favorite franchise we are" (which is why, despite its flaws, I really appreciate Fanboys and it's relationship to Star Wars a little bit over Free Enterprise and it's relationship to Trek. By and large, however, Free Enterprise is a funnier and much more mature production).

The film begins with sharply written but seemingly shallow characters but they almost feel more real as the film goes along. I like a lot of the details. And Shatner is really out there in this film.. I really like "Bill".

My favorite bit is when the guy from Swingers comes in and is complaining about his buddy's relationship to Claire. 'He's cooking. Now he's cooking.. with a pan... and fire!"

I also love Claire in the film. I like how she writes her phone number on the issue that Gambit's debut, yet she too is not as shallow as she at first comes across.


oh, and the visit to "T.R.U.' is perfect. Yes me and my adult friends did that all the time.

 

[jayrath]

It's absolutely brilliant, from the perspective of giving Shatner to reinvent himself yet again. This was the beginning of Shatner winking at the audience and playing a character also named Shatner. He pimped himself, it worked, and "Boston Legal" and everything else came from that.

 

[Peter Q Taggart]

Loved it. I've got both the original Pioneer DVD and the 2 disc Anchor Bay special edition. Waiting for the blu-ray and Free Enterprise 2.

 

[Balrog]

Classic. I loved the references not only to Trek, but all of Sci-Fi. It was a nice connection with Logan's Run and Mark turning 30.

 

[Harvey]

I think it's excellent. Sure, it's not a perfect movie, but it's about as perfect a movie for me as a moviegoer as you could get. It's not only sf literate, but it's film literate, too. The two sequences with the (imaginary) Bill Shatner at the beginning of the movie are funny as hell.

Shatner: "What did he say?"
Robert: "You really don't want to know."
Shatner: "I really do want to know!"
Robert: "He said...that Han Solo was cooler than Captain Kirk."
(Beat)
Shatner: "Kick the little fucker's ass."

 

[Destructor]

I'm a big fan of the film, although I've not watched it in a while. The only thing that I really don't like about it is the stupid threesome scene and the "I'll make waffles!" thing afterwards. It comes out of left-field, adds nothing to the story, and I actually feel embarrassed recommending an otherwise good film because of it.

 

[AFEK ESLCAFE W]

I'm a big fan of the film, although I've not watched it in a while. The only thing that I really don't like about it is the stupid threesome scene and the "I'll make waffles!" thing afterwards. It comes out of left-field, adds nothing to the story, and I actually feel embarrassed recommending an otherwise good film because of it.

It's no worse than the ending to Chasing Amy.

Free Enterprise is one of those unique films that if you are not already indoctrinated into Star Trek and sci-fi fandom, you will not really get and appreciate.

There is a deeper love story there, and how these 2 young men who are about to be 30 have to grow up, and be mature about their emotions and adult responsibilities in life. Heck, even "Bill" Shatner comes in there and practically tells the 2 lead guys (Rob and Mark) that Star Trek itself may be inspirational but it's the actual real life "YOU" who has to try.

I enjoy this film so much that I actually own 2 copies of its 2-disc collector's edition, because my brother-in-law misplaced my original copy this year. So, I bought another one. Then, he ended up finding my original copy for me.

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but the innergeek tells me that if Free Enterprise were an official Star Trek film, I would rank it at #1!

 

[datalogan]

I have taught my 5-yr-old son to say "stay on target" whenever anyone says "almost there". This movie has stayed with me.

 

[Mysterion]

One of the better Star Trek movies made to date.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Loved this - and "Fanboys" and "Galaxy Quest". They all hit the right marks.

 

[Stompy]

I love Free Enterprise. I had the good fortune of seeing it in the theater with Mark and Robert.

I've been a bit obsessed with it since the movie came out, especially since Chase was in the movie. I went so far as to track down the REAL Laura Hafermann...

I was really excited about the sequel and asked Bill about it-
http://www.chaseclub.com/Dabo/dabo64/WilliamShatnerpart6.mp4

I also have a very understanding wife who helped me win 2 of Audie England's costumes from the movie: her wedding dress, and the green nightie...

Robert did a 2010 SDCC panel on Free Enterprise 2: The Wrath of Shatner but alas it has not yet come to pass...

 

[lstyer]

I haven't watched Free Enterprise in a few years, but I have seen it a number of times and I have fond memories of it. It's certainly not a perfect movie, even the first time I watched it I felt that it ran a bit longer than it needed to, but it was definitely a fun movie, to see that level of affection for geek culture expressed in a movie that was as good as Free Enterprise was very rewarding.

Plus William Shatner was awesome in the movie.

My favorite Free Enterprise bit, though, is the whole exchange about "there was a fight in the kitchen." Somehow that scene cracks me up even more than all the geek culture references.

 

[Stompy]

I haven't watched Free Enterprise in a few years, but I have seen it a number of times and I have fond memories of it. It's certainly not a perfect movie, even the first time I watched it I felt that it ran a bit longer than it needed to, but it was definitely a fun movie, to see that level of affection for geek culture expressed in a movie that was as good as Free Enterprise was very rewarding.

Plus William Shatner was awesome in the movie.

My favorite Free Enterprise bit, though, is the whole exchange about "there was a fight in the kitchen." Somehow that scene cracks me up even more than all the geek culture references.

The waitress in that scene is the BRILLIANT Shawn Pelofsky. She's still very active these days and chats with folks on Facebook all the time. Her comdey is not for everyone but there's no denying she's FUNNY!

https://www.facebook.com/shawn.pelofsky

 

[stonester1]

One of my top three movies of all time.

"THIS IS MY MOVIE!"

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Welp after reading this thread I acquired this movie which I have never seen though I vaguely recall meaning to do so at some point but then I totally forgot it existed. So it's there waiting for me.

 

[Cyke101]

Fun fact: Rafer Weigel, who plays Robert in the movie, left acting to become a sports broadcaster for ABC-7 Chicago. His father Tim Weigel was a legendary sports anchor in Chicago who died of cancer in 2001, so Rafer became inspired by his dad's legacy.

Source: I'm a Chicagoan

 

[Robert Comsol]

Shatner: "What did he say?"
Robert: "You really don't want to know."
Shatner: "I really do want to know!"
Robert: "He said...that Han Solo was cooler than Captain Kirk."
(Beat)
Shatner: "Kick the little fucker's ass."

Yes, it had a great opening cleverly combining Scotty's attitude from "The Trouble With Tribbles" with a common situation in the late 1970's when Star Wars was seizing Star Trek's thunder.

As a film and LaserDisc collector myself, I could perfectly identify with the lead characters. Bill Shatner obviously didn't mind several jokes at his expense which still makes it a must-see, IMHO.

Bob