Entertainment
The Raunchy Comedy Formula Was Perfected By This Forgotten R-Rated Movie
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Sometimes, the most vulgar phrases happen to be the perfect description of something very specific. For example, what would you call movies like Porky’s, American Pie, and Road Trip? Some critics prefer cagey terms like “raunchy, coming-of-age films;” others prefer simpler descriptors, like “sex romp.” But would you like to know the absolute best term for vulgar, nudity-filled movies aimed squarely at the male gaze? “Boner comedies.” While this genre has been slowly dying thanks to studios shying away from making R-rated content, such films were an absolute staple of the ‘80s, the ‘90s, and the early aughts.
Maybe it’s for the best that they died off, though, as this movie formula was absolutely perfected in 2004. That was the year we got EuroTrip, which seemed at first like a cash-in ripoff of the highly successful Road Trip. But EuroTrip soon proved itself to be the better film thanks to its superior writing, charismatic performances, and beautiful exotic locales. Oh, and an earworm of a song sung by Matt Damon in one of his best (or at least, most hilarious) performances. Fortunately, the best boner comedy ever made is streaming for free on YouTube, meaning you can take this EuroTrip from the comfort of your favorite couch.
Fun? Mandatory. Clothes? Optional
The premise of EuroTrip is that a young man named Scotty gets dumped right after he graduates high school. He gets sympathy from a German pen pal named Mieke, who suggests they meet in person. Scotty, thinking his pen pal is a weird sex predator, fires off a cruel response. Soon afterward, his younger brother points out that Mieke is a girl’s name, and Scotty belatedly realizes he has feelings for her. So, he solves his problem the only way he knows how: by traveling through Europe with three of his best friends, with the goal of finally taking a bite out of his pen pal’s very tasty German cake.
As you might have guessed, Scotty’s straightforward plan to meet this girl quickly goes awry, and he and his buddies are sent careening on an insane trip throughout Europe. This leads to most of EuroTrip’s most bonkers comedic moments, like the group accidentally befriending some soccer hooligans in London and doing some absinthe-powered incestuous makeouts in Slovakia. The Eurotripping comedy arguably reaches its peak when Scotty is mistaken for the new Pope, turning his simple quest for booty into a bona fide international incident.
The Best Fake Song Ever Made
Speaking of international incidents, the best part of EuroTrip might be a running gag in the form of a song. You see, Scotty doesn’t just get dumped: he finds out his girlfriend is cheating on him when the other man (Matt Damon, playing hilariously against type) turns their affair into an insanely catchy song called “Scotty doesn’t know.” Scotty hears it performed live at a party, and it’s such an earworm that even his friends are singing it later. Later, the whole crew discovers that “Scotty Doesn’t Know” has become a chart-topping musical hit that people jam out to, all across the world. Trust me: by that point, you won’t know whether to laugh or simply sing along!
Matt Damon’s not the only one absolutely killing it in EuroTrip. Scott Mechlowicz is perfect as the hangdog Scotty, a kind of beleaguered straight man for his friends to bounce off of. His closest friend is played by Jacob Pitts, whose character is basically a boner comedy mascot: absolutely obsessed with sex and weirdly adept at getting women to expose themselves. The other friends are fraternal twins, with one played by Travis Wester (who plays an open-minded geek who’s still down to clown) and the other played by the late, great Buffy the Vampire Slayer icon, Michelle Trachtenberg (whose character will do almost anything to not be seen as one of the guys).
A Sexy Cult Classic Is Born
When EuroTrip came out, it was far from a critical darling. In fact, this movie currently has a 47 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics complaining about the film’s tasteless jokes and abundant nudity. However, these are staples of the boner comedy genre: nobody is watching movies like this for intellectual stimulation or in-depth plots. No, we’re watching this to enjoy hilariously raunchy jokes punctuated by scenes of beautiful naked women, and EuroTrip delivers this double dose (or should that be Double D?) throughout its entire svelte runtime. For this reason, the film quickly became a cult hit, one that has led to decades of fans screaming “Scotty doesn’t know!” at Matt Damon.
Part of why EuroTrip is the best boner comedy ever made is that it doesn’t pretend to have any real goal other than making you laugh. There’s no American Pie-style platitudes about coming-of-age and discovering true love, and there’s no 40-Year-Old Virgin pieties about challenging the way we think about sex and sexuality. No, this film simplifies everything down to the driving ethos of the male gaze: boobs are fun, d*cks are funny, and getting laid is everything. If that sounds offensive, then you should skip this film. If I had you at “boobs,” though, then you should check out EuroTrip right away!
He Likes It When You Call Him Big Pope-a
Ready to travel around the world without leaving your couch? No, I’m not talking about drugs, though they might just make your viewing experience that much crazier. I’m talking about watching EuroTrip, which is currently streaming on YouTube. It’s a movie that has a little bit of everything: a cuck hero, a killer song, and Michelle Trachtenberg in a bikini. Plus, you can stream the whole thing for free, which leaves more room for the important things in life. Like, you know, ordering some pizza once the drugs kick in!
