The Truth About Average Guys
2009
USA, R. 83 minutes
Directed by
Ken Gayton (co-director)
Jason Schaver (co-director)
Writers
Ken Gayton Co-writer
Jason Schaver Co-writer
Producers
Alex Ferguson ... associate producer
Ken Gayton ... co-producer/co-
Katie Meardon ... co-executive producer
Jason Schaver ... co-producer/co-
Cast
Ken Gayton ... Jason Lewis
Jason Schaver ... Troy
Erika Walter ... Katie Banks
Adam Breske ... Josh
Alyssa Roehrenbeck ... Erica
Esther Claire ... Denise
Kimberley Hellem ... Stacy Banks
Tony Bozzuto ... Dave
Jonathan Biver ... Ed
Chris Kossen ... Trey
Barry Kidd ... Stewart
Richard Renik ... Stepfather
Walt Sloan ... Jerry
Rachel Brosnahan ... Molly
“An insecure man has his dimwitted actor friend pose as his mentally challenged brother in order to get to know a beautiful co-worker who has a mentally challenged sister.”
This simple sentence belies the genius that is The Truth About Average Guys. Genius may be a slight over exaggeration but never the less, this very politically incorrect romantic comedy does fulfill its promise as “a chick flick for guys”.
Dealing with issues of male insecurity and self esteem in a sensitive and yet frat boy way, that would make the late John Belushi proud, this little film represents the freshman feature outing for the writing/directing/acting team of Ken Gayton (Jason Lewis) and Jason Schaver (Troy). For the remarkably modest budget of $5000, they have assembled a comedic acting troupe of better than average actors from the Chicago area into a cohesive unit that tells a boy gets the girl story with enough plot twists and turns to make it refreshing and unpredictable. Special kudos to Erika Walter as Katie Banks who does a wonderful job as the beautiful but unobtainable girl that Jason wants. Her honest and nuanced performance is critical to making this story work.
Not as embarrassingly uncomfortable as Curb Your Enthusiasm (TV series 2000-2009) or as gratuitously toilet as many a Ben Stiller movie, The Truth About Average Guys paints a sensitive portrait from a guy’s point of view of how to deal with ones condemning self involvement and get the girl. Geared to the high school and college crowd, it shows a great understanding on the part of the writers for the honest emotions behind the mating dance of the sexes. With very good production values and a great job by Cinematographer Steve Clay, this “third attempt at my first film” is destined to end up in Red Box, Blockbuster and Wal-Mart in 2010. Look for it, buy it, and enjoy it. Four stars.
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