Film’s Most Loveable Losers!

Holy Rollers is inspired by actual events in the late nineties when Hasidic Jews were recruited as mules to smuggle ecstasy from Europe into the United States! Sam Gold (man of the moment Jesse Eisenberg), a young Hasid from an Orthodox Brooklyn community reluctantly follows the path his family has chosen for him, awaiting a pending arranged marriage and studying to become a Rabbi. A charming neighbour, Yosef Zimmerman (The Hangover’s Justin Bartha), senses Sam’s resistance and propositions him to transport ‘medicine’ for Jackie (Danny A. Abeckaser), an Israeli gangster and drug dealer, and his girlfriend, Rachel (Ari Graynor).

Sam quickly demonstrates his business skills to his boss, Jackie, who instantly takes him under his wing. Now exposed to the exciting and gritty worlds of the Manhattan and Amsterdam nightlife, Sam begins to spiral deeper into their detrimental lifestyle, experimenting with ecstasy and then falling for Rachel. As the business grows, Sam’s double life begins to rip his family apart and the community becomes suspicious of his illegal activities.

To celebrate the upcoming release of Holy Rollers on Friday, 8th July, we take a look at some of the most loveable losers in film, one of whom is portrayed by Eisenberg in the Holy Rollers….

Sam Gold from the Holy Rollers

Sam Gold is introduced to us a shy, sheltered teenager who stays very firmly within his boundaries. There’s no denying that it’s this slight geekiness that sells Sam to us as a loveable character, however soon all that changes as he is faced with the temptations of the not quite so straight and narrow path…

Napoleon Dynamite

When it comes to high school losers that have found a place in our hearts there is no denying that odd ball Napoleon Dynamite is a favourite of many. Played by Jon Heder in the 2004 movie, Napoleon is a geeky teenager who lives with his Grandma, 32 year old (equally geeky) brother and pet llama in Idaho. Napoleon is keen to fit in at high school but his efforts more than often fail so in an attempt to fight the prejudice of popularity in high school Napoleon sets about on a campaign to get Pedro, a new addition to the school, to be voted in for student body president. Along the way we see Napoleon in his pursuit of equality make quite a spectacle of himself …

Paullie Bleeker – Juno

Another high school loser who wins our affections is the character of Paullie Bleeker in the critically acclaimed Juno as played by Michael Cera. Paullie is the most unlikely high school guy to get a girl pregnant imaginable but that’s exactly what he does after a one time sexual encounter with his friend Juno Macguff (Ellen Page.) On the discovery we follow the pair over the course of a year as Juno goes through pregnancy and planning an adoption for when the baby is born with Bleeker’s support and friendship. Bleeker is a geek trying oh so hard to be cool as he so aptly tells Juno on her proclamation of love for him; “’Cause you’re, like, the coolest person I’ve ever met, and you don’t even have to try, you know… “ to which Paullie replies, “I try really hard, actually.” And it’s for this we salute Paullie Bleeker as being one of the most loveable losers in film.

The Gang in Superbad

Michael Cera has made a habit of portraying these socially awkward high school characters in a loveable and hilarious way as he showcases not only in Juno but also as we see when he is joined by Jonah Hill and Seth Rogan in comedy Superbad. The group of boys, normally shunned by the popular kids at school, are excited at the prospect of being invited to a party of one of the popular girls in school and with it the possibility of getting laid. However they come to the conclusion that this will not be possible without the help of copious amounts of alcohol which they set out on a mission to obtain with the help of a rather interesting fake ID. However their mission does not go quite to plan as the group end up separated and being trailed but two rather inept policemen. But we can’t help but find the efforts of the group endearing…

Andy Stizer in the 40 year Old Virgin

Moving away from high school losers to somewhat older ones we meet Andy from the ‘The 40 year old virgin’ where he plays just that, a shy and awkward man who at the age of 40 still remains a virgin. Played brilliantly by Steve Carrell, Andy is a bit of a geek with an impressive comic book collection but not such impressive skills with the ladies. His friends therefore take it upon themselves to help him finally do the deed. However this mission does not run smoothly as he experiences some rather interesting encounters on his quest to find love…

Harry and Lloyd in Dumb and Dumber

Harry and Lloyd from comedy classic Dumb and Dumber are quite possibly some of the most famous movie losers of all time, and undeniably the most stupid. We are introduced to the well intentioned pair as they set out on a mission to return a suitcase to a woman Lloyd becomes smitten with after driving her to the airport in his job as a limo driver. What the pair don’t realise however is that the owner is not the only one who wants to be reunited with the case, leading the pair into a whole lot of trouble, not aided by their lack of common sense…

Milton Wadden in Office Space

The slightly strange character of Milton is one that cannot be ignored when taking a look at the most loveable movie losers of all time. Starring in comedy Office Space, it is impossible forget some of the classic one liners of the rather peculiar Milton Waddams. A meek office worker who constantly mumbles to him himself about how much he hates his job, Milton was meant to have been laid off years before but someone forgot to tell him so he never left. Fixated with the issue of his favourite red stapler being borrowed, Milton is a loveable and ultimately unforgettable movie character.

Holy Rollers is in cinemas 8th July.