Flick: Fandango

When Houstonist was a rookie Texan, we once debated a colleague about films that were "quintessentially Texas." Any film set in Texas, filmed in Texas, starring Texans, etc. was eligible. The point was to build a list of movies to watch so that we could figure out the reason for the nauseating levels of Texanism and the fascination of the outside world with the state of Texas. Surely armadillos, oil rigs and interstate were not the sole reasons.

One colleague, let's call him Millhouse, suggested that Fandango was the quintessential film about Texas since it had most of the "key elements" covered. Booze? Check. Cowboy hats? Check. Male bonding? Check. Fights? Check. Road trip, i.e. a journey of some sort? Check.

Allow us to catch up those of you who think Fandango is a movie ticket vending service. The 1985 film, Fandango, is a Texas-based buddy picture written and directed by Kevin Reynolds of Waterworld fame. [Let's not go there.] The other Kevin of Waterworld, Costner that is, stars as the ring leader of graduating college buddies who decide to whoop it up one last time before reality bites.

The group embarks on a road trip to find Dom and chaos ensues. It's a Cadillac filled with dudes and beer - go figure. There's trains, plane and automobiles. "Eccentric West Texas folk" and a "classy lady" also appear.

While the jury at large is still out on Fandango, Houstonist digs this flick for the aforementioned base elements. And, we wish we'd have had a friend named Dom during our final stupid days of collegiate life. We're taking off on a Fandango roadtrip.

Watch the film while we're gone and let us know what you think. Here's something to ponder: was Costner's acting better when he had hair or after?

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Photo by "Truman Sparks."