I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell (film)
Encyclopedia
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell is a 2009 American
comedy film
loosely based on the work and persona of writer Tucker Max
, who co-wrote the screenplay. In an interview with Shave Magazine Max explained that the film is not "a direct recount or retelling. It says it is based on true events because it is. Basically, every scene in the movie happened in real life in one way or another but it happened in a different time or time frame. But pretty much every single thing happened." The film was directed by Bob Gosse
and stars Matt Czuchry as Max. It was produced by Darko Entertainment and distributed by Freestyle Releasing
, and is rated R for nudity, strong sexual content including graphic dialogue throughout, language and some crude material. Max had said previously that sequels were possible if the initial film found financial success. The film was released in theaters on September 25, 2009. The DVD was released on January 26, 2010.
. Based on Max's real-life experiences, the film follows Max and his friends Drew and Dan to a strip club for Dan's bachelor party
, where he ensnares Dan in a lie that threatens his wedding. The ensuing events which include Drew hooking up with Lara, a dancer and single mother, and Max hooking up with a midget
stripper, lead to Max abandoning Dan who lands in jail for being drunk and disorderly. After the guys return from their misadventures, it results in Max being banned from the nuptials. Max then attempts to earn Dan's forgiveness.
A tireless and charismatic novelty seeker, Tucker (Matt Czuchry) tricks his buddy Dan (Geoff Stults
) into lying to his fiancée Kristy (Keri Lynn Pratt
), so they can go to an legendary strip club three and a half hours away to celebrate Dan’s last days of bachelorhood in proper style. Tucker drags their misanthropic friend Drew (Jesse Bradford
) along for the ride, and before they know it Tucker’s pursuit of a hilarious carnal interest lands Dan in serious trouble with both the law and his future wife.
The ensuing blowout leaves Tucker uninvited to the wedding and ankle deep in a mess of his own creation. If he wants back into the wedding and the lives of his best friends, he’ll have to find a way to balance the demands of friendship with his own narcissism and selfishness.
Denise Quiñones
was originally cast as Lara, but dropped out two days before filming started. Dominczyk, who had been the original first choice for the role but had passed due to a scheduling conflict, was now available and stepped in immediately
The film includes cameo appearances from UFC
fighters Forrest Griffin
and Mac Danzig
; rapper Paul Wall
; Fark.com
founder Drew Curtis
, author Timothy Ferriss
, and the real-life Tucker Max (playing Dan's older brother Jeff). Producer/writer Nils Parker also has a small cameo, playing an announcer in the strip club.
reacted positively. The review consensus from Rotten Tomatoes was: "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell fails in its attempts at raunchy humor, and Tucker Max comes across so unlikable and outrageous that the film's inevitable story arc feels forced." Numerous critics considered the movie to be one of the worst of the year.
and of promoting rape culture
by allegedly glamorizing the practice of engaging in sex acts with women who are intoxicated. In addition, protests were staged at screenings of the movie by demonstrators who argued that intoxication precludes a woman from consenting to sex, and thus Max's stories and movie include descriptions of acts that "meet the legal definition of rape in North Carolina."
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
loosely based on the work and persona of writer Tucker Max
Tucker Max
Tucker Max is an American author and public speaker. He chronicles his drunken and sexual encounters in the form of short stories on his website TuckerMax.com, which has received millions of visitors since Max launched it for a bet in 2002, making him an Internet celebrity.Max's book I Hope They...
, who co-wrote the screenplay. In an interview with Shave Magazine Max explained that the film is not "a direct recount or retelling. It says it is based on true events because it is. Basically, every scene in the movie happened in real life in one way or another but it happened in a different time or time frame. But pretty much every single thing happened." The film was directed by Bob Gosse
Bob Gosse
Bob Gosse is an American film producer and director. He has also acted in several movies.-Background:Gosse was born on Long Island, New York. After graduating with a BFA degree from the film program at SUNY Purchase in 1986, Gosse joined the independent film scene in New York City, creating...
and stars Matt Czuchry as Max. It was produced by Darko Entertainment and distributed by Freestyle Releasing
Freestyle Releasing
Freestyle Releasing is an independent film studio founded in 2003, specializing in helping other people/companies to release their films theatrically for getting distribution fees...
, and is rated R for nudity, strong sexual content including graphic dialogue throughout, language and some crude material. Max had said previously that sequels were possible if the initial film found financial success. The film was released in theaters on September 25, 2009. The DVD was released on January 26, 2010.
Plot summary
The film's plot is loosely adapted from "The Austin Road Trip Story" in Max's book I Hope They Serve Beer in HellI Hope They Serve Beer in Hell
I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell is a New York Times #1 bestseller and has made the Best Seller List each year from 2006 to 2011. It has sold over one million copies worldwide, including 400,000 copies in 2009 alone...
. Based on Max's real-life experiences, the film follows Max and his friends Drew and Dan to a strip club for Dan's bachelor party
Bachelor party
A bachelor party , also known as a stag party, stag night or stag do , a bull's party , or a buck's party or buck's night , is a party held for a man shortly before he enters marriage, to celebrate his "last night of freedom" or merely to spend...
, where he ensnares Dan in a lie that threatens his wedding. The ensuing events which include Drew hooking up with Lara, a dancer and single mother, and Max hooking up with a midget
Midget
A midget is a short person with relatively average bodily proportions in comparison with other human beings. The term is often improperly used to describe a person with the medical condition dwarfism. The two terms are often used synonymously because both terms originate as words defining small...
stripper, lead to Max abandoning Dan who lands in jail for being drunk and disorderly. After the guys return from their misadventures, it results in Max being banned from the nuptials. Max then attempts to earn Dan's forgiveness.
A tireless and charismatic novelty seeker, Tucker (Matt Czuchry) tricks his buddy Dan (Geoff Stults
Geoff Stults
Geoffrey Manton "Geoff" Stults is an American actor. He is best known for his regular roles on 7th Heaven, October Road and Happy Town. During the 2011 network upfronts, Fox announced it was picking up The Finder, a spin-off of Bones, in which Stults will star as the title character.-Early...
) into lying to his fiancée Kristy (Keri Lynn Pratt
Keri Lynn Pratt
Keri Lynn Pratt is an American actress of film and television. She is well known for her role of Missy Belknap on Jack & Bobby or as Dee Vine in the film Drive Me Crazy, which was her debut role....
), so they can go to an legendary strip club three and a half hours away to celebrate Dan’s last days of bachelorhood in proper style. Tucker drags their misanthropic friend Drew (Jesse Bradford
Jesse Bradford
- Early life :Bradford was born Jesse Bradford Watrouse in Norwalk, Connecticut, the only child of actors Terry Porter and Curtis Watrouse, who appeared in commercials, soap operas, and industrial films. His mother also played his character's mother in Hackers...
) along for the ride, and before they know it Tucker’s pursuit of a hilarious carnal interest lands Dan in serious trouble with both the law and his future wife.
The ensuing blowout leaves Tucker uninvited to the wedding and ankle deep in a mess of his own creation. If he wants back into the wedding and the lives of his best friends, he’ll have to find a way to balance the demands of friendship with his own narcissism and selfishness.
Principal cast
- Matt Czuchry as Tucker Max
- Jesse BradfordJesse Bradford- Early life :Bradford was born Jesse Bradford Watrouse in Norwalk, Connecticut, the only child of actors Terry Porter and Curtis Watrouse, who appeared in commercials, soap operas, and industrial films. His mother also played his character's mother in Hackers...
as Drew - Geoff StultsGeoff StultsGeoffrey Manton "Geoff" Stults is an American actor. He is best known for his regular roles on 7th Heaven, October Road and Happy Town. During the 2011 network upfronts, Fox announced it was picking up The Finder, a spin-off of Bones, in which Stults will star as the title character.-Early...
as Dan - Keri Lynn PrattKeri Lynn PrattKeri Lynn Pratt is an American actress of film and television. She is well known for her role of Missy Belknap on Jack & Bobby or as Dee Vine in the film Drive Me Crazy, which was her debut role....
as Kristy - Marika DominczykMarika Dominczyk-Personal:Dominczyk moved with her family from Kielce, Poland, to New York City when she was three, after her parents were expelled from their native Poland for her father's involvement with Amnesty International and then the Solidarity movement....
as Lara - Nicole MuirbrookNicole Muirbrook-Career:As a model, Muirbrook has appeared on the covers of Vanidades, Vogue Girl, Blush and Bella.Muirbrook appeared in an episode of the US sitcom How I Met Your Mother and some have theorized that she will eventually play Ted Mosby's Future Wife. She played Thalia in The Human Contract, which...
as Christina - Traci LordsTraci LordsTraci Lords , also known as Traci Elizabeth Lords and Tracy Lords, is an American film actress, producer, film director, writer and singer...
as Connie
Denise Quiñones
Denise Quiñones
Denise Marie Quiñones August is a Puerto Rican actress and beauty pageant titleholder who was the fourth woman from her country to win the Miss Universe contest...
was originally cast as Lara, but dropped out two days before filming started. Dominczyk, who had been the original first choice for the role but had passed due to a scheduling conflict, was now available and stepped in immediately
The film includes cameo appearances from UFC
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
fighters Forrest Griffin
Forrest Griffin
Forrest Griffin is an American mixed martial artist. He is currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC light heavyweight champion....
and Mac Danzig
Mac Danzig
Mac Danzig is an American mixed martial artist, who competes as a lightweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Background:...
; rapper Paul Wall
Paul Wall
Paul Michael Slayton , better known by his stage name Paul Wall, is an American rapper. He is currently affiliated with Swishahouse Records, having released several albums under the label as well as...
; Fark.com
Fark
Fark is a community website created by Drew Curtis that allows members to comment on a daily batch of news articles and other items from various websites. As of June 2009, the site boasts approximately four million unique visitors per month, which puts it among the top 100 English language websites...
founder Drew Curtis
Drew Curtis
Drew Curtis is the founder and an administrator of Fark.com, an Internet link dump site. He is also the author of It's Not News, It's FARK: How Mass Media Tries to Pass off Crap as News in May 2007.-Bio:...
, author Timothy Ferriss
Timothy Ferriss
Timothy Ferriss is an American author, entrepreneur, and public speaker. In 2007, he published The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich, which was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller. In 2010, he followed up with The 4-Hour Body...
, and the real-life Tucker Max (playing Dan's older brother Jeff). Producer/writer Nils Parker also has a small cameo, playing an announcer in the strip club.
Reception
The film received generally negative reviews; only 7 out of 32 professional critics (22%) sampled by Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reacted positively. The review consensus from Rotten Tomatoes was: "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell fails in its attempts at raunchy humor, and Tucker Max comes across so unlikable and outrageous that the film's inevitable story arc feels forced." Numerous critics considered the movie to be one of the worst of the year.
Box office
Opening weekend gross was $366,900 on 120 screens. Its total domestic gross was $1.4 million. Max blamed the movie's box office failure on the marketing of the movie.Controversy
In 2010, during the pre-release promotional period for the movie, several publications accused Max of rapeRape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
and of promoting rape culture
Rape culture
Rape culture is a term which originated in women's studies and feminist theory, describing a culture in which rape and sexual violence against women are common and in which prevalent attitudes, norms, practices, and media condone, normalize, excuse, or tolerate sexual violence against women...
by allegedly glamorizing the practice of engaging in sex acts with women who are intoxicated. In addition, protests were staged at screenings of the movie by demonstrators who argued that intoxication precludes a woman from consenting to sex, and thus Max's stories and movie include descriptions of acts that "meet the legal definition of rape in North Carolina."