Rent Swingers (1996)

Love Hurts - Swingers review by Steve

This ultra-low budget Los Angeles comedy is a huge standout in the decade of gross-out slapstick. It is astute and sincere without ever being sentimental. There are plenty of big laughs too. The humour inclines to the comedy of embarrassment, especially the extended scene with an answer machine...

Which I now skip through. It's a lifestyle/buddy picture about a couple of out of work actors. John Favreau means to break into sitcoms but is weighed down by the separation from his longterm girlfriend. Vince Vaughn plays a loud, charismatic wannabe who labours to get his best pal over the heartbreak...

Meanwhile the duo cruise the swing revival scene in Hollywood with their posse of would-be rat-packers... looking for sex, or a break. And much of their hipster dialogue entered the wider culture for a while. Plus there's the cool soundtrack of classic Vegas numbers and visual references to arthouse cinema.

The lack of finance is obvious, but not a problem. Favreau- who co-produced, and wrote the quotable script- was in the business and able to call in favours. Otherwise, he cast relations and director Doug Liman shot guerrilla style. It's a funny, feel-good comedy, and among the best ever on unrequited love.