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The New Guy

Play trailer Poster for The New Guy PG-13 2002 1h 24m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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7% Tomatometer 98 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter 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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The New Guy

The New Guy

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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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Critics Reviews

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Alexander Walker London Evening Standard 01/12/2018
Lyle Lovett plays the hero's dad: money must be tight. DJ Qualls: aiming at the dumb and dumber crowd. Go to Full Review Nathan Rabin AV Club 06/11/2013
A comedy just funny enough to make viewers wish it were far funnier. Go to Full Review Nell Minow Common Sense Media 12/28/2010
1/5
The New Guy is a waste of talent and time. Go to Full Review Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens 11/13/2019
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. Go to Full Review Steve Head IGN Movies 06/11/2013
3/5
It's a fun, upbeat movie, and there are scenes that are downright hilarious. Go to Full Review Total Film 06/11/2013
2/5
So what's new about The New Guy? Not much, actually. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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LINUS L @RT26901074 Aug 26 A whole lot dumber than I remember. See more Anthony G @RT22683951 Jul 20 This movie is a classic funny and iconic the actors and actresses were perfect from this generation at looks at the high school days not the most popular movie but it grows on you it’s not meant to be a brilliant comedy it’s meant just for comedy to whoever enjoys this type of movie so people who don’t understand the movie these critics are a joke and need to be fired you’re too old if you find this movie not hilarious and it not your cup of tea See more Scott N @RT33256662 Mar 31 This is by far one of the dumbest movies I've ever seen and I've seen Super Troopers 2. Whoever thought up the part where they release this so called criminal into a public high school should never find work again See more Alexander S @RT61935749 02/05/2025 The New Guy is a dumb movie that still offers a chance to laugh and reminisce about the good old days of 2000’s campy comedy. Grading: C- See more Jonathan O @RT41230270 08/31/2024 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. See more Ed R @JustcallmeER 07/13/2024 Pretty terrible movie, haha. Thankfully the beautiful Eliza Dushku saves the movie with her looks. See more Read all reviews
The New Guy

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Cast & Crew

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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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The New Guy

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Movie Info

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
Bedlam Pictures, Revolution Studios, Frontier 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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