"Freshman Orientation" Review - Written by Anthony Thurber

Freshman Orientation
A.k.a: House of Phobia
Year: 2008
Director: Ryan Shiraki
Studio: Screen Media Films
Stars: Sam Hutchingson, Kaitlin Doubleday, Mike Erwin
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 91 Mins
Official Website: http://www.freshmanorientation-themovie.com/

Going into this film, I thought that this would be one of those stupid comedies, as the film sounds like it in the film’s synopsis. I really wasn’t interested, until I did a little research and found out that the film played at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival under a different title “House of Phobia”. I pretty much decide then that this might be interesting, since you usually don’t see these types of films play at Sundance.

Freshman Orientation is about a Midwestern freshman, who is entering college and wanting to engage in the party scene. During one of those parties, here comes a girl that he thinks is his dreamgirl. Determined to get her, he begins to establish a gay identity, to find a way into her life. This plan eventually backfires as he caught in gender warfare, fraternity hazing and political martyrdom and cause the university to be a state of chaos. Can he find the woman of his dreams or will he just fall flat on his face. The film also co-stars John Goodman (Speed Racer, The Big Lebowski), Heather Maratazzo (Hostel Part 2, Welcome to the Dollhouse), and Rachel Dratch.

Freshman Orientation is a nice throwback to eighties comedies of “Porky’s” and “Revenge of the Nerds”. Direction Ryan Shiraki did a good job with hitting all of the film’s comedic notes. He accomplishes this by not making the notes totally outrageous or redundant to the point where it was getting repetitive. It also helped balance the film humorous action, as it wasn’t too raunchy or too bland for my taste. Skiraki’s also does a good job getting the actors performances to be funny and entertaining, which he needed. The performances were directed well. Each of the film’s actors, including stars Sam Huntington and Kaitlin Doubleday had good chemistry, which is important especially in comedic films. It made the film very funny to watch and helped moved the story along.

Shiraki’s screenplay did a good job with acceptable humor that didn’t make me want to shut the film off. One of things that he does well was not to offend anyone; especially when he deals with gay issues. He treats the subject very well, as none of the humor goes over the line or becomes offensive. Shiraki also includes nice subplots like Clay best friend with the drunken chick and Clay’s ex-girlfriend turned lesbian. It made the film funny and fun to watch while addressing these issues. But what makes his film work is the way he develops the relationship between Huntington and Doubleday’s characters. Shiraki doesn’t make this relationship wild and crazy, like you see in other films. He makes the two main characters completely different in their personalities. It makes the film interesting because it adds good humor while letting the two main characters develop a bond with each other, which makes you hooked to the story. Because, if you’re not interested in the relationship, then chances are that you’re not going to like this film, as it doesn’t have any of that over the top gross-out humor which seemingly everyone enjoys.

Freshman Orientation will make you wish that you were back in college as it provides laughs and fun.

Review Rating: 3.5 Stars