Free Enterprise (1998) – Two nerds who never grew up are still obsessed with the stories and movies of their childhood as they approach thirty. In this midst of their self-obsessed lives, they suddenly meet their idol.
Directed by Robert Meyer Burnett Starring William Shatner, Eric McCormack, Rafer Weigel
This is a cult film, so some of the usual standards have to be set aside. Because if I don’t set them aside I would have to tell you that this is a dumb, pointless movie with few redeeming moments. It is within a minute of the runtime for “The Law” (which I just reviewed). One had me riveted, and the other had me wondering how much longer this movie would last.
This is the story of two whiny friends who have never quite managed to get over being fourteen years old. They have two other friends who suffer almost as much from that problem and whine almost as much. But it is Mark (McCormack) and Robert (Weigel) who are the center of the movie. Both work in the movie industry as a producer and film editor at the lowest edges of Hollywood. Their love lives suck for obvious self-involved, Peter Pan reasons. And horror of horrors, they are about to turn thirty!
Then they bump into William Shatner (mostly playing himself) in a bookstore and join with him in his ridiculous dream of making a musical version of Shakespeare’s “Julius Ceasar”. The idea is intended to be laughable and it is. Shatner and McCormack spend most of their time playing with the musical idea portion of the screenplay while we watch Weigel’s character show why all his love interests leave him in disgust.
McCormack is fine in his usual twitchy bag of neuroses role. Weigel is passable in a dopey role that is woven entirely from cliches. Shatner is Shatner. He has some fun with playing with all the legend and rumor that has surrounded him since he boldly went. The scene of him rapping portions of the Bard almost make up for everything else.
In the end, this movie is one long pop culture reference with ZERO character growth (Robert gets off the hook with a convenient “I love you the way you are” from his last amour. Yes, that was a spoiler. For a lame moment in a silly script). As a Star Trek fan who idolized Captain Kirk, I understand some of what the characters are going through as they grapple with the line between fact and childhood heroes.
In the end, it is the fact that it’s a cult hit that scrapes this one over the line to its rating. It’s a ridiculous movie with just enough going for it to make it worth a viewing.
Why You Will Like It: Check your brain at the door and enjoy the silly fun of it.
Rating – *** Worth A Look
Stories Are My Life 
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