Trojan War (film)


Trojan War is a 1997 American romantic comedy film directed by George Huang and starring Will Friedle, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Marley Shelton. The film was a critical and box office disaster. Produced for $15 million, it made only $309 in ticket sales because it was played in a single movie theater and was pulled after only a week.

Plot

High school student Brad has had an unrequited crush on a classmate named Brooke for years. After she asks him to come over one night to tutor her, she ends up wanting to have sex with him. But she only wants safe sex, and he does not have a condom. In his quest to buy some condoms, he runs into all sorts of trouble; his dad's Jaguar gets stolen and then wrecked, he has a run-in with a crazy bus driver, he is held hostage, he is pursued by a school janitor who accuses him of drawing graffiti, an odd pair of Hispanic siblings who thinks he looks like David Hasselhoff, Brooke's dog, Brooke's jealous boyfriend Kyle, and a homeless man who wants two dollars from him, and he is arrested.
After all of this and finally receiving a condom from a police officer who releases him, he realizes that the perfect girl has been there for him all along: his best friend Leah, who has had feelings for him for a long time unbeknownst to Brad. Finally, Brad realizes his own feelings for Leah while also discovering Brooke is not as great as he thought she was, after he finds out that she only wants a one night stand with him instead of a relationship. Brad runs out to find Leah and professes his feelings to her, and they kiss each other by moonlight.
After the end credits, Brad's parents are shocked by the sight of what is left of their car after the tow truck driver brings it back.

Cast

The film was released in only a single movie theatre and was pulled after only one week. It earned a total of $309 against a production budget of $15 million.
As of 2007 it was the fifth lowest grossing film since modern record keeping began in the 1980's. Dade Hayes of Variety magazine explained that a single theater release is more about fulfilling contractual obligations than anything to do with audience reaction to the film.

Reception

Nathan Rabin of The Onion's The A.V. Club wrote: "It may be formulaic, predictable and as substantial as a Little Debbie snack cake, but as a loving, inane throwback to the golden age of the Brat Pack and the two Coreys, it's irresistible."
Charles Tatum of efilmcritic wrote: "Sometimes, a movie comes along that makes you want to sob, and not in the good way."