Long time Andrew-followers have already heard me complain about the proliferation of movies in which nerdy people robot-dance and movies featuring Smashmouth songs. Well, look alive, because it's time for...
The Third Thing All Filmmakers Should Avoid
Pay attention, filmmakers. If you ever find yourself making a sexy teen comedy -- and there's no shame in it, I assure you -- do not include the scene in which we learn the names of all the cliques. Just excise it from the screenplay.
Oh, you know the scene I'm talking about. Here, I'll be more specific: veteran student walks new student through outdoor common area of high school, pointing out similarly-dressed groups and explaining each group's clever name.
and you know, then there's one or two groups tacked on the end for comedic value, like...
VETERAN STUDENT
You mean the Pirates? Those eyepatches are just for show, you know. Those guys can see fine.
Are you listenening, Hollywood? It's not funny anymore. We didn't like it in 10 Reasons Julia Stiles Must Die and we won't like it in Like Heathers But Less Dark.
NOTE: I have a rotten memory for these things, and it's not the kind of thing you can google -- so if anyone has in mind a movie that has this scene, please post a comment about it. Also don't forget I'm always looking to add to my Smashmouth and Robot Dance lists and I welcome your contributions.
The only one I can think of right now is Clueless, with the theater kids, the popular kids, and the "loadies". I also have my suspicions about other movies, like Never Been Kissed, but I can't confirm that.
Ah, you're so right about Clueless. And I think you get bonus points because it happens exactly as I described it -- outdoors and as an introduction for the new kid.
I haven't seen Never Been Kissed, but based on the plot I suspect you're right. I'll have to rush out and rent it immediately.
I believe there's a scene in "The New Guy" which has the scene you are talking about. It is also done outdoors. Though it's a bad movie, I would highly recommend it for the 90 min or so of Dushku.
I'm actually going to have to disagree, because one movie did it really well, but not as introducing a new kid. The secretary's spiel in Ferris Bueller's Day Off is awesome, and I'm not sure if it's supposed to be ironic or not.
But it does fit the criteria, especially with the tacked on joke-groups at the end (e.g. "...dweebies, dickheads. They all adore him. They think he's a righteous dude.")
It pains me to exempt Ferris Beuller, but I'm thinking specifically of scenes where we see the groups in question as they're named. Usually there's five or six group members hanging out all at once and doing something characteristic. Also these shots tend to be point-of-view. God, it really is the same scene over and over again.
I feel like there's a John Cusack movie where this happens. Better Off Dead maybe? Hmm.
Is that the one where he draws his pain?
Anyway. You are not welcoming of suggestions. Hell I had to fight with you about examples on both of those lists and to no avail.
Oh, bitch bitch bitch. I even thanked you on the Robots page. Let it be known: there is no satisfying Bob.