Entertainment
Raunchy Star Wars Tribute Film Reveals Every Problem With The Disney Era
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
There’s nothing quite like returning to a guilty pleasure film; it’s the cinematic equivalent of raiding the fridge at 2:00 am and making a sandwich so unhealthy it would give Scooby and Shaggy diabetes. Sure, you could watch something more enriching, just like you could eat something other than meat covered with every sauce and topping that you own, but where’s the fun in that? Sometimes, the heart wants what the heart wants, even if that happens to be (let’s face it) pure cinematic junk food.
Recently, I returned to one of my ultimate guilty pleasure foods: Fanboys, the film about Star Wars nerds trying to see The Phantom Menace before its release. With a 33 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s fair to say that most people consider this film a serious stinker. But I’ve always enjoyed how the movie embraces the cringe of both its premise and its characters, effectively leaning into the goofiness that made us fall in love with Luke, Leia, and Han in the first place. Watching Fanboys now also reveals the biggest problem with the Disney era of Star Wars: the desperate need to make a dorky franchise seem cool.
Get Into The Garbage Chute, Fanboy!
Most of Fanboys is a tribute to the Original Trilogy, which makes sense: in this ‘90s set film, the prequels have yet to come out. Of course, Fanboys came out in 2009, four years after the Prequel Trilogy ended. The creators were very well aware of how much fans largely hated George Lucas’ follow-up film, so they ended Fanboys with a bit of cheeky meta-commentary. As our characters settle in to watch The Phantom Menace on the big screen, one of them broaches a once-unthinkable proposition right before the credits roll: “What if the movie sucks?”
That line hits differently now that Disney has released its own Sequel Trilogy of Star Wars movies. In the wake of those film failures, there has been plenty of critical reappraisal of the prequels. Some of this comes from younger audiences who grew up with those movies and have a nostalgic fondness for the foundational schlock of their childhood. But a surprising amount of the reappraisal comes from older fans who once mercilessly bashed movies like The Phantom Menace. Those fans have decided that, in retrospect, passionate Star Wars movies from an honest weirdo are better than dispassionate Star Wars movies made by a soulless company.
Force Choking The Critics
As one of those older fans, I kept thinking about this comparison when watching Fanboys. To be clear, this is a film that is filled with flaws: the humor is broad, and much of the raunchier stuff (added at Harvey Weinstein’s request, no less) is simply gross rather than engrossing. However, most of the bad jokes were written from the perspective of the titular fanboys, and they collectively manage to do something that I thought was impossible. Namely, the humor of the film captured what it was like to be a Star Wars fan in the ‘90s.
The characters debate about whether Boba Fett was actually cool, get advice from Harry Knowles, strike out with women, and generally act like a gaggle of homeschooled kids whose only teacher was a VCR. Some of the jokes and even the performances are rough around the edges (seriously, Kristen Bell is acting circles around her colleagues), but that’s part of the charm: like the best of the worst bad B-movies, all of this came from creators who are deeply passionate and had something to say. In this way, they effectively channel the quirky excesses of George Lucas himself when he was making the soon-to-be-hated prequels.
The Nostalgia Menace
In The Phantom Menace, does it really make sense for Qui-Gon Jinn to trust his life to an idiot with a speech impediment? Of course not, just like it doesn’t make sense for him to risk the fate of an entire planet on the child slave that he ends up buying and bringing back to the Jedi temple. The craziness continued with Attack of the Clones, which had Obi-Wan Kenobi solving huge galactic conspiracies by talking to the weirdo owner of his favorite diner. In Revenge of the Sith, meanwhile, Anakin murders a zillion children because he got an “IOU” on saving Padme from a boss who now has resting monster face.
All of these are bonkers creative decisions by George Lucas, but that’s part of what makes the prequels special. The man is always swinging for the fences, and even when the bat doesn’t connect, it’s fun to watch each swing. You can’t ever really predict where Lucas is going to go with this story, just like you can never predict what will happen next to the titular protagonists of Fanboys. There’s a certain magic to that, and watching this fannish comedy unfold has the same bizarrely captivating quality as listening to your craziest friend tell his most unhinged story.
E-Girl And Her Podracer Boyfriend
Compared to the prequels, Disney’s Star Wars sequels are depressingly flat. You can feel the corporate meddling at every step, from transforming The Force Awakens into a soft reboot to bringing Palpatine back for sheer nostalgia value. There is no actual creative vision behind these movies because the company doesn’t care about creativity: they just care about keeping fans happy enough to keep buying endless Funko slop. Lucas might have gotten rich by selling toys, but he didn’t worry all that much about pandering to fans; instead, he jammed his prequels with anything and everything he found interesting, giving us a trilogy truly unlike any other ever made.
While Fanboys pokes very gentle fun at the prequels, it has something important in common with those films: it’s filled with every crazy idea that the creators can jam into it. Major cameos from heavyweights like William Shatner and Carrie Fisher exist alongside scenes where our heroes learn life lessons from hookers. The film has poignant things to say about life and death, but it also has time to make our heroes strip down to impress a local gay bar (their own personal Mos Eisley). The whole thing is a surprisingly complex meditation on friendship, though this can be hard to notice when, say, Kristin Bell is dressed as slave Leia.
Much like the Star Wars prequels, Fanboys is very flawed and divisive, but it was made with honesty and passion from quirky creators who had a genuine vision. That alone gives the film more rewatchability than the Disney-era Sequel Trilogy. If you’d like to see just how funny fan humor can be, or maybe you want to relive the glory days of ‘90s Star Wars fandom, you’re in luck. Fanboys is currently streaming on Tubi, which should honestly consider making a new slogan based on everyone’s favorite galaxy far, far away: “the free will be with you. Always.”
Entertainment
Tons of Fitbits are on sale ahead of Prime Day
Best early Prime Day Fitbit deals at a glance:
Amazon’s Prime Day sales event is right around the corner (I can’t believe it’s that time of year again!), and I’m genuinely shocked by the deals we’re seeing this early in the game.
Usually, Amazon doesn’t put Fitbits on sale until the very last minute, and then they’re gone. (And some years, they don’t go on sale at all.) But right now, we’re seeing all-time lows on select Fitbit models, including the Charge 6.
Here are the best early Prime Day Fitbit deals you can shop right now:
Best deal overall
$99.95
at Amazon
$159.95
Save $60.00
Why we like it
The Fitbit Charge 6 isn’t the newest Fitbit on the market, but it still has (almost) everything you’d need in a smart wearable. (I say almost because the Fitbit Charge 6 doesn’t have an altimeter, but if you’re not a trail runner, this probably isn’t a deal breaker.)
The Charge 6 tracks your calories, steps, sleep, heart rate, and more. It also has built-in GPS, 40+ exercise modes, a seven-day battery life, and includes a three-month Google Health Premium (formerly Fitbit Premium) membership. Once the three months are up, you’ll need to either cancel or renew for $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually.
Mashable Trend Report
Right now, you can get the Fitbit Charge 6 for $99.95 at Amazon. This is the lowest price we’ve tracked on this model since its release in 2023.
Best runner-up deal
Why we like it
If you’re willing to spend a little bit more, the Fitbit Versa 4 is on sale for $149.95. This isn’t the lowest price we’ve seen (it was $104.96 in April 2024), but it’s still a pretty good deal.
Unlike the Charge 6, the Versa 4 has an altimeter and Bluetooth wrist calling. So, if you’re looking for a wearable that acts more like a smartwatch, the Versa 4 might be the better buy. That said, it doesn’t have the more “serious” health sensor that the Charge 6 does (e.g., ECG and EDA).
The Versa 4 also comes with three months of Google Health Premium.
Best budget deal
$79.95
at Walmart
$89.95
Save $10
Why we like it
If you’re just looking for something that’s affordable and efficient, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is your best option at $79.95.
It’s a no-frills fitness tracker that’ll give you the basic features you need to stay on top of your health. It can track your heart rate, steps, and stress levels. (It also offers menstrual health tracking, which is nice.)
You’ll also get 10 full days of battery life and, like the other models mentioned above, three free months of Google Health Premium.
Entertainment
20+ book deals Im sending to the group chat before Prime Day even begins
Table of Contents
The best early Prime Day book deals at a glance:
It’s nearly Amazon Prime Day, which officially runs from June 23 through 26, but if you don’t feel like waiting, there’s already plenty of live deals to shop.
Besides offering three free months of both Kindle Unlimited and Audible to new subscribers, Amazon also has some pretty great discounts on books themselves. I’m not usually one to recommend purchasing physical books via Amazon (support local book stores!), but it’s pretty hard to pass up a 50% price drop on a book you’ve had on your TBR.
Amazon Editors just dropped the 20 best books of 2026 (so far) — find out what made the list
I’m tracking some of the best deals on physical books and e-books at Amazon ahead of the official Prime Day kick off, but remember to check back for more once things start ramping up.
Best early Prime Day hardcover book deal
$14.67
at Amazon
$30
Save $15.33
with on-page coupon
Why we like it
Named one of the best books of 2026 so far by Amazon Book Editors, Crux is an “exhilarating, tender novel about an unlikely friendship forged through a shared love of rock climbing,” according to Amazon Editor Abby Abell. Thanks to an on-page coupon at Amazon, you can add the hardcover version to your home library for less than half its usual cost.
More hardcover book deals
Best early Prime Day paperback book deal
$7.50
at Amazon
$19.95
Save $12.45
Why we like it
A classic trope of two abducted girls, only one returns and one doesn’t, The Girl Who Was Taken is a psychological thriller by Charlie Donlea where nothing is as it seems. Typically around $20, you can pick up the paperback version for only $7.50 at Amazon ahead of Prime Day. That’s just a few cents away from its lowest price ever.
Mashable Deals
More paperback book deals
Best early Prime Day Kindle book deal
$2.99
at Amazon
$18.99
Save $16.00
Why we like it
I highly recommend grabbing this twisty psychological thriller from internationally best-selling author Steve Cavanagh while the Kindle version is only $2.99. Kill For Me Kill For You follows two women seeking revenge against the men who killed their daughters. Over drinks one night, they decide to swap murders, but things don’t go exactly as planned.
More Kindle book deals
Entertainment
Red Drink for Juneteenth
Amber Mayfield Hewett loves a good party. Not “good” in the sense that there were enough chairs and everyone liked the dip (though a killer dip and a place to sit definitely don’t hurt). To Amber, a good party is one where everyone in the room feels like they belong — no one feels like a plus-one or wonders if they should’ve stayed home. “In my early twenties, I was living in Harlem and working as an assistant at a TV network,” she explains in her new book, Your Turn to Host. “I loved going out, exploring the restaurant scene and private clubs… But something always felt missing. Even though I was surrounded by people all the time, I felt lonely.”
So, Amber started her own supper club, hosting dinners as a way to create community. “The first dinner was 24 people — roommates, co-workers, people I’d met out in the city,” she says. “Everyone walked in as strangers, but as the night went on, they were laughing and swapping stories like old friends.” Her supper club has since grown into a full-time career, and as of this week, a book — a guide to hosting meaningful gatherings of all kinds: Friendsgiving potlucks, Sunday suppers, and of course, cookouts.
“At the core, cookouts are a way for your village to come together,” Amber explains. “I keep an open-door policy for kids and friends of friends. And to me, cookouts are synonymous with freedom because of the holidays typically celebrated with them, including Juneteenth.” In her book, Amber offers a full guide for a Juneteenth cookout — everything from grilling tips to lawn games, as well as her own recipe for traditional Red Drink. “On Juneteenth, it’s customary to serve red foods and beverages,” she says. “Red is a symbol of the profound sacrifice and resilience of African American people.” Amber’s recipe starts with a classic sorrel-syrup base (“You can use the same technique to make other syrups, like lavender or elderflower”) and is spiked with a cup of rum. “You can easily omit the booze if you prefer a non-alcoholic version,” she adds. “The drink is delicious and refreshing on its own.” Here’s how to make it…
Red Drink
Serves 15
From Your Turn to Host by Amber Mayfield Hewett
Sorrel Syrup:
4 cups (1 L) water
1 1/2 cups (300 g) sugar
1 cup (1 1/2 oz/40 g) cut and sifted dried hibiscus flowers
2 cinnamon sticks
Punch:
2 (2 L) bottles club soda
1 cup (240 ml) dark rum
Juice of 2 large lemons
Ice cubes
4 lemons, sliced into wheels and seeded, for garnish
Make the syrup: In a medium pot, combine the water and sugar. Bring to a boil over a medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Add the hibiscus flowers and cinnamon sticks, and stir until the flowers start to soften. Reduce the heat to medium to maintain a gentle boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the syrup is deep red in color and infused with a floral flavor (about 20 minutes). Remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes.
Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing on the solids to extract all the liquid; discard the solids. Let the syrup cool completely before using or storing (about 30 minutes). The sorrel syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Make the punch: In a large punch bowl, stir together the club soda, 1 cup (240 ml) of the sorrel syrup, rum, and lemon juice to combine. (Amber notes: “If you’re skipping the rum, and want a little more flavor, you can add a splash of lemonade or a berry-flavored sparkling water.”) Serve with ice and garnish with lemon wheels.
Big thanks to Amber for sharing this recipe with us! You can find TONS of party recipes and hosting tips in her book and newsletter.
P.S. Five easy party foods, and a monochromatic fruit salad.
(Top photo by Xiana Gutierrez. Excerpted from Your Turn to Host by Amber Mayfield Hewett, published by Artisan Books. Copyright © 2026.)
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