Free Enterprise (1998)

Director:

Robert Meyer Burnett

Writers:

Mark A. Altman (writer) &
Robert Meyer Burnett (writer)

Release Date:

4 June 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

The Shat hits the fan

Plot:

Young filmmakers (Rafer Weigel, Eric McCormack) trying to hawk a movie titled "Bradykillers" about a serial killer who goes after victims Marcia...

Plot Keywords:

Satire | X Men | Answering Machine | Ménage À Trois | Actor Playing Himself

Awards:

4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Eric McCormack	...	Mark
Carl Bressler	...	Mort Berg
Ethan Glazer	...	Young Mark
Phyllis Franklin	...	Ticket Taker
Brandon Kleyla	...	Young Kevin
Thomas Hobson	...	Richard
Marilyn Kentz	...	Gail - Mark's Mom
Spencer Klein	...	Young Robert
Mickey Cassidy	...	Bully
Rafer Weigel	...	Robert
Jennifer Sommerfield	...	Tricia
Tricia Cruz	...	Mexican Waitress (as Latricia Cruz)
Annika Brindley	...	Astrid
William Shatner	...	Bill
Michael Altman	...	Eden Waiter

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and language.

Runtime:

113 min | 121 min (extended version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Germany:6 | Australia:M | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Mindfire Entertainment

Trivia:

The credit "The Artist Formerly Known as Shatner in "William Shatner vs. the World Crime League'" is a reference to The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984), which featured a similar credit at the end of the film, referring to a never-made sequel that appears to have been retooled by John Carpenter into Big Trouble in Little China (1986). The original "World Crime League" reference seems to be a nod to a similar credit at the end of Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze (1975).

Goofs:

Plot holes: The movie takes place in 1998 just before Mark's 30th birthday party, putting his birthday in 1968. However, in the flashback scene of Mark trying to get into Star Trek: The Motion Picture Mark says his age is 12 when asked by the women in the ticket stand, despite the fact that Star Trek: The Motion Picture was released in 1979 and the movie itself says 19 years earlier. This would make Mark already 30 by the time the film is taking place in 1998.

Quotes:

Dan: [trying to pick up a waitress] I was going to write my phone number on the check.
Mark: That's romantic. Why not just leave an engagement ring with the valet while you're at it?

Movie Connections:

References "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987)

Soundtrack:

On the Set

Fantastic comedy

I really enjoyed this film. Even though I had never heard of any of the lead actors, except of course for William Shatner, I thought they did an incredible job of portraying their characters. Intellectual, devoted, neurotic, and erotic are just a few of the qualities they were asked to convey. And William Shatner is a revelation revealing that his hopes, dreams, and fears are closer to those of his committed fans than they could ever have imagined. Since I have seen most of the Star Trek episodes and movies and the other films alluded to by the characters, I was able to appreciate all the wonderful in-jokes. I highly recommend this hilarious film even if you are not a Star Trek fan, 9/10.