Ferris Bueller Meets JackAss In The Award Winning Web Series, On Empty
By Heather Jacks, Music Journalist
Ferris Bueller Meets JackAss In The Award Winning Web Series, On Empty
I have often said that I am an eighties kid. No, I wasn’t born in the eighties; I lived the eighties. The era of one-hit wonders, parachute pants, new wave, leg warmers, Wayfarer sunglasses, the mullet, The Cure, fer sure/fer sure, (well, you get the idea). So when the Award Winning web series, On Empty was brought to my attention, it was oddly familiar, comfortable in the way my old Motley Crue hoodie has become after years of wear. If you are a fan, (even a closet fan) of 1980s movies like “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “Pretty in Pink,” “The Breakfast Club” or “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ,” then add On Empty to your must see list.
Meet Vince Foster and Tyler Haines, early twenty-somethings, who decide to make a documentary (mockumentary) about their Hollywood quest, in which they seek super-stardom and fame. These two hapless movie buffs feed into each other’s ridiculous ideas of being discovered. In Episode One, we find Vince and Tyler arriving in LaLa Land, addressing the camera as they document their inevitable rise to fame and fortune. What better place to start than the iconic Hollywood sign? Unbeknownst to them, the public is not permitted to go near that sign, so they go to jail instead. Follow that with an unsuccessful solicitation of the William Morris Agency and a myriad of adventures, in which these two friends try to connect and get connected, discover and get discovered in the land of fruits and nuts.
Initially, I felt out of touch, as a middle age woman, reviewing a series designed for the post teen/pre mid-life era audience. That odd age where you are fearless and vulnerable, self aware and self conscious at the same time, but don’t yet know the difference. However, On Empty has more to it than simply delighting in police chases at the Hollywood sign, commandeering private jets or reviving a cryogenically frozen Bruce Lee. There is an air of unusual savvy and self assurance about Vince and Tyler’s characters, that deftly underscores the fun with organic sentiment. And it’s at precisely these points that we, the adult viewing audience, experience those ‘A-Ha‘ or ‘I remember when‘ moments, and catch ourselves laughing along the journey, as our former premature middle-ages selves.
It’s easy for modern day television and movies to exaggerate or misrepresent that early twenties life. The ’80s served up an innocent, generous, upbeat cheerfulness that would become unthinkable during the cynical 90s and the 00′s gave us a slew of narcissistic young men on the run from commitment, slashers and vampires. Foster delivers a refreshing change, by showcasing far-fetched fantasies and day dreams set on a backdrop of genuine friendship; the kind of friendship that supports unquestioningly and unflinchingly, no matter how outlandish the dreams may appear. For me, On Empty does something that other series featuring young leads does not. It shows rare insight and respect for their audience, with enough sight gags to please slapstick fans and enough sensibility to please those of us who watch it from the vantage of mid-life. Combined, it’s no surprise that On Empty won the “Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Comedy Series” award at the 2012 Los Angeles Web Series Festival. On Empty is fresh, young and a joy to watch.
Next week, join us as we meet creator, writer, director and actor of On Empty, Vince Foster. (Hint, you may remember him as the Egg McMuffin of boyfriends. :-)
Until then, click here to visit On Empty: http://www.onempty.net
Click here to view the first episode:
