Overview[]
Plot[]
Dean has been a waiter at a restaurant called Shenaniganz for four years since graduating from high school, and has not earned a degree during his four years at a community college. When Dean learns from his mother that a former high school classmate, Chet, now has a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, he begins to rethink his directionless life.
Dean's roommate and co-worker, Monty, is in exactly the same situation, but has accepted that his future lies with the restaurant. Monty is put in charge of training Mitch, a newly hired waiter who is constantly interrupted throughout most of the film before he can speak, usually by Monty. Also working with Dean is Calvin, a hopeless romantic who cannot urinate in public, and Dan, the uptight manager who is grooming Dean as his protégé. Rounding out the staff are 17-year-old hostess Natasha, abrasive waitress Naomi, waitress (and Monty's ex-girlfriend) Serena, Dean's girlfriend and fellow waitress Amy, stoner busboys T-Dog and Nick, head chef Raddimus, the insane, unsanitary chef Floyd, lesbian bartender Tyla, and the pensive and philosophical dishwasher Bishop.
The waiters preoccupy themselves with endless gossip, complaining about the customers, seeking covert revenge on particularly rude or annoying patrons, and playing a special kind of game which involves flashing genitalia at a fellow worker (the "Penis Showing Game", which was referred to informally as the "penis game" in some movie reviews, including the Toronto Star[2] and BBC[3] in film reviews from 2005 and 2006 respectively). Each employee has his or her own problems and stories, which are interwoven with the ebb and flow of business.
Minutes before the restaurant closes, Chet and his girlfriend come in for dinner and leave Dean a generous tip out of pity. This prompts Dean to quit his job, turning down an assistant manager position Dan offered him at the beginning of the film to seek a more promising future.
When the shift ends, the staff head to a party at Monty and Dean's house. At the party, Monty, who has a predilection for sleeping with teenage girls, is able to resist having sex with Natasha, although he says they will have sex the following Wednesday, when she will be 18. Calvin attempts to fix his relationship problems, and Mitch finally speaks, angrily ranting about his coworkers and quitting. He concludes by giving them all The Goat from the "Penis Showing Game", which Raddimus had told him earlier would instantly grant him god-status. Monty swears his undying allegiance to Mitch, telling Dean he's been "replaced". The film ends with the staff talking about the incident with Mitch, and Dan showing up at a disgruntled customer's house after Natasha gave him the wrong address to the party on purpose.
Cast[]
- Ryan Reynolds as Monty
- Justin Long as Dean
- Anna Faris as Serena
- David Koechner as Dan
- Luis Guzman as Raddimus
- Chi McBride as Bishop
- John Francis Daley as Mitch
- Kaitlin Doubleday as Amy
- Robert Patrick Benedict as Calvin
- Alanna Ubach as Naomi
- Vanessa Lengies as Natasha
- Max Kasch as T-Dog
- Andy Milonakis as Nick
- Dane Cook as Floyd
- Jordan Ladd as Danielle
- Emmanuelle Chriqui as Tyla
- Wendie Malick as Monty's Mom