- Director:
Robert Kubilos - AMG Rating:
- Genre: Comedy
- Movie Type: Romantic Comedy
- Themes: Surfing, Culture Clash, Twentysomething Life
- Main Cast: Sean Astin, Matthew Lillard, Brian Dennehy, Shannon Elizabeth, Maitland Ward
- Release Year: 1998
- Country: US
- Run Time: 95 minutes
- MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Fast-talking, fast-thinking, fast-living -- oh to be a career dishwasher, without a care in the world other than getting the grime and grease off other peoples' dinner plates. Morgan (Sean Astin) and Jason (Matthew Lillard) have found the Zen in their chosen profession as itinerant dishwashers, scrubbing pots and pans at restaurants at night and by day chasing their dream of finding the perfect wave to surf. They travel up and down the West Coast, insouciantly eschewing a more staid and steady lifestyle, choosing instead to move from one eatery to the next. They brag about what little money and earthly things they possess, and they revel in their romantic freedom. Their peripatetic dishwashing comes to a bubbly stop once Morgan meets topless dancer Anne (Shannon Elizabeth) and decides to make her his -- although she refuses to have anything to do with him. Naturally, a conflict arises with Jason, as this courtship goes against their shared philosophy of rootless rebellion. Can the boys come to a mutually beneficial agreement, or is this the end of the proud "dish dogs"?~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
Review
There is much inspiration in this witty, off-kilter young-adult comedy -- from the bright, primary colors of the sets to the relentlessly clever, non-stop dialogue, to the basic philosophy that drives the "dish dogs" from one watery sink to the next. Similar in intent to contemporaries Road Trip and American Pie (with which it shares the actress Shannon Elizabeth), Dish Dogs is the best of the three films because it is smart. There are not a lot of youth comedies in theaters or on cable these days that boast a plot that climaxes with an internalized philosophic epiphany instead of an externalized vulgar action, and for that, Dish Dogs gets major credit. Sean Astin is a wonder in the lead role, and Lillard, who nearly stole Scream, continues to be an eminently watchable young actor. Bright and zany without unnecessary raunch, Dish Dogs eventually runs out of energy, as director Robert Kubilos takes a little too much time trying to wrap up the loose ends. But until then it bubbles over with brainy fun.~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
Cast
- Sean Astin - Morgan
- Matthew Lillard - Jason
- Brian Dennehy - Frost
- Shannon Elizabeth - Anne
Maitland Ward - Molly
