Review of Loser

Loser is a movie that plot-wise, we've all seen many times before. One likeable character has bad luck or is dealt a bad hand in life, goes from one wacky mishap to another, and ends up at the end of the movie with the girl, the better outlook on life, and his tormentors get their comeuppance.

Loser, however, does so with genuine heart and emotion for the titular character, Paul Tannek, played by Jason Biggs of "American Pie" fame.

He is abused by his college roommates, even kicked out of the house they share because he studies instead of parties. Along the way, Paul gets to know Dora Diamond (Mena Suvari, from "American Beauty", and also of "American Pie"), a quite girl whom is having an affair with their mutual college professor. It's no secret going in that Paul will eventually romance Dora, and all the "jerk" characters will get what's coming to them. But Biggs and Suvari inject a reality into both of their roles that is refreshing, charming, and end up making this movie lean a little into "teen romantic comedy" territory. Both characters are also shown to be intelligent, considerate people, desperately trying to find each other in a world of selfish, insipid, moronic co-horts.

It may seem corny to say it... but this "Loser" is a definite "winner"!