“Alright, Alright, Alright” — few will read this phrase in anything other than Matthew McConaughey’s drawling voice.
Breakout star of the 1993 cult classic Dazed and Confused, McConaughey was blonde and almost unrecognisable in the Richard Linklater directorial.
While this coming-of-age comedy grossed a dismal $8.25 million at the global box-office following its release in September 1993, it has since cemented its place in several ‘best movies about high school’ lists.
Centred around the last day of school in a laidback Texan town in 1976, Dazed and Confused follows a group of high schoolers – juniors becoming seniors and eighth graders entering high school.
The film sees these teenagers navigate the precipice of adulthood as they find themselves deep in the throes of puberty in the America of the 1970s. They party, participate in hazing rituals, display typical teenage rebellion and angst, and question their futures — all while smoking weed and drinking copious amounts of alcohol.
Dazed and Confused features a large ensemble cast, many of whom went on to become major stars — including Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck, Parker Posey, Milla Jovovich, Adam Goldberg, Cole Hauser, Nicky Katt, Joey Lauren Adams, Rory Cochrane, and Anthony Rapp.
Boasting a 94 per cent critics approval rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, one reviewer said of the film: “Succeeds on its own terms and reflects American culture so well, it becomes part of it.”
While another critic said: “The ultimate party movie — loud, crude, socially irresponsible and totally irresistible.”
A third review of the film added: “Once every decade or so, a movie captures the hormone-drenched, fashion- crazed, pop-song-driven rituals of American youth culture with such loving authenticity that it comes to seem a kind of anthem.”
With an audience approval score of 90, Dazed and Confused is a hit with audiences too, with one fan saying, “Amazing movie. One of a kind,” while another states, “The best movie when I was a teenager. The start to so many careers. We watched it every day.”
A third audience review says: “I think that even in today’s modern age, this is the most realistic depiction of high school boys I’ve ever seen. Not in the drugs or parties but the conversations, it really captures how dumb high school conversations are.
“Besides that, this is Linklater’s masterpiece. It’s almost hard not to have a good time while watching this. A hilarious film with a great soundtrack and wonderful cinematography, this is just an all around good time.”
While one fan writes: “This movie is capable of transporting the audience back to the 70s and feel a little nostalgia when it ends. Something only a few other titles did with mastery. As many said, the movie says so little, but it says it all.”
Dazed and Confused is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+ for £3.49.