Everybody Wants Some!!

Everybody Wants Some!! is a 2016 American comedy-drama film directed by Richard Linklater. Set in the early 1980s, the film follows a team of talented yet unruly baseball scholarship students enjoying their final days of unsupervised freedom on the Texan campus before the academic year begins. Starring Blake Jenner, Tyler Hoechlin, and Ryan Guzman, this college baseball romp is filled with humor, music, and an earnest understanding of its characters, delivered through Linklater's unique storytelling style.

Blake Jenner stars as Jake Bradford, a freshman pitcher for the South Texas State University baseball team who moves into the team's frat-style house two days before classes start. As he adjusts to the boisterous personalities of the ensemble of characters in his new university surroundings, he also falls for Beverly (Zoey Deutch), a theatrical arts student.

Tyler Hoechlin plays the sharp-tongued, ultra-competitive, philosophical team captain, Glen McReynolds. Ryan Guzman portrays Kenny Roper, a fun-loving, raw of nerve pitcher, never shying away from the rambunctious enjoyment that their last days of freedom offer. The characters are so well-developed, each one unique in their own way, it's easy to forget they all are part of a baseball team, not just a gathering of eclectic young men. The baseball theme doesn't overshadow the film but rather brings a dynamic focal point to the narrative, providing a common thread that weaves all the characters stories together.

This narrative-driven movie transcends the typical "coming of age" genre. While it undoubtedly includes the typical elements such as partying, hormones and competitive anecdotes, Linklater takes those elements and elevates them. Instead of relying on tired cliches of jocks behaving badly, Linklater shows us a group of individuals, each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and quirks. There's an authenticity to these characters that extends beyond their baseball prowess, and cleverly, Everybody Wants Some!! is framed around the baseball team, but it's not a baseball movie--it's a movie about people who play baseball.

Linklater brilliantly recreates the 1980s era, enlisting the help of iconic tracks from the period's defining artists, including The Sugarhill Gang and Blondie, to immerse the audience in the characters' reality. The music not only sets the tone but also becomes the lifeblood of the film, pulsating through the scenes and propelling the narrative forward.

Although the movie's plot is largely episodic, it is this specific structure that allows the audience to enjoy seamless transitions through significant events and explore diverse themes such as masculinity, competition, identity, and the passage of time. Each scene is a well-orchestrated symphony of conversations, debates, dances, and an endless string of parties.

The cast excels in delivering genuine, nuanced performances. Blake Jenner is the perfectly cast, charm-filled link between the audience and this 1980's world. Ryan Guzman shines as the free-spirited Kenny, and Tyler Hoechlin lends gravitas to Glen's sarcastic, know-it-all demeanor, helping keep the mood light yet meaningful.

The movie doesn't take itself too seriously and seamlessly blends humor with profundity. The characters are often amusing, due, in large part, to their distinct and entertaining interactions. But behind the laughter, beneath the machismo and bravado, there are deeper, more introspective ideas at play – a closer look at identity and male dynamics, the joy of life's small, ordinary moments, and the fleeting nature of youth and freedom.

Richard Linklater, best known for his critically acclaimed Boyhood and Dazed and Confused, continues his exploration of youth and time with Everybody Wants Some!! This film is a worthy spiritual successor to his previous work, bringing to life the intimate, relatable stories of young men standing on the cusp of adulthood under the familiar canvas of the 1980s collegiate world.

Everybody Wants Some!! is less plot-driven and more a window into a universe – a universe that is uncannily relatable, making us part of their fraternity, their baseball team, their parties, and their journeys. It's a vibrant, insightful, and heartening artifact of a bygone era that resonates with audiences, making us nostalgic for a time some of us never knew. While it may seem like a film about baseball players, in classic Linklater fashion, the story opens up to be so much more – a timeless tale about life, growth, and the pursuit of dreams.