Slacker
Seen it?1990 | 97 min | Comedy
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It earned strong reviews (81% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest, despite soft box office. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Repo Man or Bugonia, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Light and funny.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 37 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Austin, Texas, is an Eden for the young and unambitious, from the enthusiastically eccentric to the dangerously apathetic. Here, the nobly lazy can eschew responsibility in favor of nursing their esoteric obsessions. The locals include a backseat philosopher who passionately expounds on his dream theories to a seemingly comatose cabbie, a young woman who tries to hawk Madonna's Pap test to anyone who will listen and a kindly old anarchist looking for recruits.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
81% on Rotten Tomatoes, 69 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.7 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$1 million worldwide on a $23K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 156K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Repo Man Saturday SpecialAnother conspiracy comedy.
Bugonia Saturday SpecialAnother conspiracy comedy, and a Saturday Special.
Everybody Wants Some!!
Sunday Safe BetAlso from director Richard Linklater, though it's a different kind of film: a comedy, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Seven Psychopaths Sunday Safe BetAnother comedy, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Paul Sunday Safe BetAnother comedy, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Richard Linklater
- Richard LinklaterShould Have Stayed at Bus Station
- Rudy BasquezTaxi Driver
- Jean CaffeineRoadkill
- Jan HockeyJogger
- Stephan HockeyRunning Late
- Mark JamesHit-and-Run Son
- Samuel DietertGrocery Grabber of Death's Bounty
- Bob BoydOfficer Bozzio
- Terrence KirkOfficer Love
- Keith McCormackStreet Musician