Jake's How-to (2008) User Reviews

Terrible

[teigeng · 1/10 · 20 May 2009]

There is really not much else to say about it. End of review. Just kidding. To the best of my knowledge, the plot is Aaron broke up with his girlfriend, he's feeling really dejected and his asshole friend Jake tries to "help" him hook up with girls while training for some beach volleyball tournament. The acting in this film is horrific. There was nothing endearing about the main character. I could not understand why any of the women in the film would be even the slightest bit interested in him. Of course, none of their characters were all that developed either. In fact, the only likable person in the whole film was the one guy who shouted a bunch of random obscenities and made obscene gestures. I think it was because the actor was aware of how ridiculous the rest of the film was and just went crazy. It is kind of sad that his character, which was not really much of character, was the only good part in the film. Outside of that, the music was obnoxious. The sound and lighting was pitiful. Basically it was a lot of unattractive people running around in swimsuits and bikinis spouting really forced dialog. Don't see this movie; I am ashamed I sat through this.

Jake's What-The?

[NoDakTatum · 1/10 · 3 October 2023]

I'm not quite sure what the Buckley Brothers were doing with this film. It's a mess, and frankly, all about the wrong characters. Aaron (Neil Kubath) is partner and prodigy to Jake (Kevin Oestenstad), a conceited beach volleyball player. The two practice on the sun drenched beaches of Wisconsin, and Jake gives Aaron some hilariously bad advice on how to pick up women. Aaron has just split up with his girlfriend, and his best friend Jonny (Matthew Zeidman) is also hoping Aaron will score, and return to normal. Aaron tries his best with assorted women, and does well, until he decides to use some of Jake's advice. A big volleyball tournament approaches, and Aaron finally comes to his senses about Jake, which affects both players' skills.

I'm sorry, but I often had no clue what was going on here. The sound is pretty bad, and the fun electronic score often drowned out the dialogue. The first two-thirds of the film drag, as Aaron is shot down every time he uses Jake's advice, yet stupidly goes back to it again and again. Also, for a sex comedy, sex is only talked about, and the only nudity here is shirtless guys and bikini-clad girls. Two peripheral characters had me laughing, and building their parts up may have made the rest of the film tolerable. Two friendly rivals to Jake and Aaron are The Christian Fury (the film's composer Kyle Buckley), who carries a cross and slaps anyone who uses God's name in vain, and Rick (Nick Doetsch), The Christian Fury's maniacal partner- rude and crude and often getting the only laughs. Plus, beach volleyball in Wisconsin? We couldn't milk a little more out of that? Instead, we have to watch Aaron getting hit in the forehead constantly, or ha-ha material like everyone thinking Jonny isn't straight. "Jake's How-To" is a lost opportunity I wanted to like more.