The New Guy

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The New Guy

PG-13

Released May 10, 2002

1h 24m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

7%

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98 Reviews

54%

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50,000+ Ratings

Nerdy high school senior Dizzy Harrison (D.J. Qualls) has finally gotten lucky - he has a second chance to be the guy with no past in The New Guy, a hilarious story about wiping the slate clean and reinventing yourself. Transforming from dud to stud at his new school with the help of inmate Luther, geeky Dizzy becomes the cool Gil Harris and sets out to destroy the popularity-obsessed social system, boost school morale and win the heart of Danielle (Eliza Dushku).

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Critics Consensus

Incoherent, silly, and unoriginal, The New Guy offers up the same old teen gross-out comedy cliches.

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Alexander Walker

London Evening Standard

Lyle Lovett plays the hero's dad: money must be tight. DJ Qualls: aiming at the dumb and dumber crowd.

Jan 12, 2018

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Nathan Rabin

AV Club

A comedy just funny enough to make viewers wish it were far funnier.

Jun 11, 2013

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

The New Guy is a waste of talent and time.

Rated: 1/5

Dec 28, 2010

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Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

The latest in the never ending saga of ugly duckling-becomes- beautiful swan films, The New Guy flails and flaps in these well charted waters, never really going with the current or finding good solid footing on which to rest its weary plot.

Nov 13, 2019

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Steve Head

IGN Movies

It's a fun, upbeat movie, and there are scenes that are downright hilarious.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 11, 2013

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Total Film

So what's new about The New Guy? Not much, actually.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 11, 2013

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Jonathan O

This movie is so unfunny and cringe it really felt like a bucket of blood scene from Carrie is definitely not recommended and I feel bad for all the actors who are in it and shame on the director and writer for make this movie offensive to everybody.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/31/24

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Ed R

Pretty terrible movie, haha. Thankfully the beautiful Eliza Dushku saves the movie with her looks.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

07/13/24

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Jorge G

A lot of people see this movie like a cliche but is a good cliche and the most important thing is that entertain.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/04/24

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Nirvana D

I watched this movie years ago and till this day it shows you how wrong it could go in high school and how right it could go. I always found it very moving to be the loser who becomes a winner. A very fun movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/17/23

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r

Listen... it's a movie that's just really of its time. Some of the humor probably won't hold up for today's audiences that weren't kids back then (and all of the cameos being one of them), being that so many of the references are from 2002, but there's a lot of things that are there just to be silly and make you laugh if you're paying attention for it! It's a world of a difference if you're looking at it through the lens of 10, 20+ years later... But it's still a sweet and goofy-humor type of comedy. It doesn't take itself seriously, and at its center it has good heart and a good message (you should really just be yourself). When I'm feeling down and need a pick-me-up, it's one of my favorite comedies to watch. Make sure you watch the director's cut, because it's the better of the versions and it makes a lot more sense with the Highlanders team/Braveheart scene. :)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/01/23

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Audience Member

A true childhood favorite! Always and will be a classic. Fits the genre and aim it was looking and meant to for!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

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Ed Decter

Director

DJ Qualls

Dizzy

Eliza Dushku

Danielle

Zooey Deschanel

Nora

Lyle Lovett

Bear

Jerod Mixon

Kirk

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Synopsis

Nerdy high school senior Dizzy Harrison (D.J. Qualls) has finally gotten lucky - he has a second chance to be the guy with no past in The New Guy, a hilarious story about wiping the slate clean and reinventing yourself. Transforming from dud to stud at his new school with the help of inmate Luther, geeky Dizzy becomes the cool Gil Harris and sets out to destroy the popularity-obsessed social system, boost school morale and win the heart of Danielle (Eliza Dushku).

Director: Ed Decter
Producer: Todd Garner, Gordon Gray, Mark Ciardi
Screenwriter: David Kendall
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Revolution Studios, Frontier Pictures, Bedlam Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Crude Humor|Mild Drug References|Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 10, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $29.0M
Runtime: 1h 24m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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