History Film / RogerDodger

A 2002 comedy-drama film written and directed by Dylan Kidd, starring Campbell Scott and Creator/JesseEisenberg.

* InDaClub: Subverted, the duo must sneek in and hide behind foliage.

--> '''Roger''': "Ask any woman, ''What's the single most attractive quality a man can possess?'' And what do they invariably answer? - Sense of humor... And yet, if two lean, mean, play-by-their-own-rules... motorcycle-riding men strolled up to this booth... and beat the shit out of us two humorous guys, right, and asked you out for a ride, you would be weak at the knees."
--> '''Andrea''': "Well, actually, guys who ride cycles are pretty sexy. "

--> '''Sophie''': "Don't spoil the wonderful time we had tonight."

--> '''Roger''': "All right. Leave it. It's spastic enough to be charming. "

--> '''Roger''': "Why give into a slump? Let's go down swinging."
--> '''Nick''': "Yes. Like Michael Jordan."
--> '''Roger''': "Right. That's the wrong sport, but I like your enthusiasm."

* InherentlyFunnyWords: Roger and his work colleagues muse over what might be the plural of 'clitoris'
--> '''Roger''': "Future generations of women will evolve clitorises... clitori... clitorati...?
--> '''Joyce''': "Clitorissimo."

* TitleDrop: By Nick
--> '''Nick''': "My mom says that when Roger was little, he could talk himself out of anything. He never got in trouble, even when he got caught. She called him ''Roger Dodger.''"

* YouNeedToGetLaid: Established as the premise of the film, but [[spoiler: is ultimately averted as the Aesop becomes 'family is paramount']]

Roger Swanson (Scott) is a smooth-talking Madison Avenue copywriter, with an uncanny ability to cold-read people. When he isn't applying his skill by "reminding consumers that they're missing something from their lives" and that his client's product is "the only thing that can fill the void", he will be applying it to women in bars. Despite his ability, Roger's cynicism and downright insulting characterizations of the women around him are a turn-off, such that he is HoistByHisOwnPetard.

Roger Swanson (Scott) is a smooth-talking Madison Avenue copywriter, with an uncanny ability to cold-read people. When he isn't applying his skill by "reminding consumers that they're missing something from their lives" and that his product is "the only thing that can fill the void", he will be applying it to women in bars. Despite his ability, Roger's cynicism and downright insulting characterizations of the women around him are a turn-off, such that he is HoistByHisOwnPetard.

Roger Swanson (Scott) is a smooth-talking Madison Avenue copywriter, with an uncanny ability to cold-read people. When he isn't applying his skill by 'reminding consumers that they're missing something from their lives' and that 'his product is the only thing that can fill the void', he will be applying it to women in bars. Despite his ability, his cynicism and down-right insulting characterizations of the women around him are a turn-off, such that he is HoistByHisOwnPetard.

Roger Swanson (Scott) is a smooth-talking Madison Avenue copy-writer, with an uncanny ability to cold-read people. When he isn't applying his skill by 'reminding consumers that they're missing something from their lives' and that 'his product is the only thing that can fill the void', he will be applying it to women in bars. Despite his ability, his cynicism and down-right insulting characterizations of the women around him are a turn-off, such that he is HoistByHisOwnPetard.

Roger Swanson (Scott) is a smooth-talking, Madison Avenue copy-writer, with an uncanny ability to cold-read people. When he isn't applying his skill by 'reminding consumers that they're missing something from their lives' and that 'his product is the only thing that can fill the void', he will be applying it to women in bars. Despite his ability, his cynicism and down-right insulting characterizations of the women around him are a turn-off, such that he is HoistByHisOwnPetard.

Roger Swanson (Campbell Scott) is a smooth-talking, Madison Avenue copy-writer, with an uncanny ability to cold-read people. When he isn't applying his skill by 'reminding consumers that they're missing something from their lives' and that 'his product is the only thing that can fill the void', he will be applying it to women in bars. Despite his ability, his cynicism and down-right insulting characterizations of the women around him are a turn-off, such that he is HoistByHisOwnPetard.

Roger's nephew, Nick (Creator/JesseEisenberg), is visiting New York scouting universities and pays his uncle a visit. While out to lunch, Nick confesses that he doesn't have a girlfriend and finds it difficult to talk to girls. Within the family, Roger is known as a ladies man, so Nick asks his uncle for help. Roger's offer "So, you need help with the ladies, Nick?" becomes the premise of the film.

[[quoteright:322:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hpExh_2465.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:322:There are millions of women in this city, Nick. Millions.]]

* HeyItsThatGuy: Creator/JesseEisenberg, now known for his role as Mark Zuckerberg in Film/TheSocialNetwork.
** One of the ladies that turns Roger down was a [[Series/{{Firefly}} very successful companion]] in another 'verse.

* {{Jerkass}}: Roger.
** Turned up to 11 when he [[spoiler: becomes jealous that Nick is more appealing to Andrea and Sophie than himself]], and when he [[spoiler: leaves Nick to sleep with his colleague so drunk she soon passes out]] and again when he [[spoiler: leaves an intentionally crude message for Donovan on Joyce's mirror.]]

* HeyItsThatGuy: JesseEisenberg, now known for his role as Mark Zuckerberg in Film/TheSocialNetwork.
** One of the ladies that turns Roger down was a [[{{Firefly}} very successful companion]] in another 'verse.

* HeyItsThatGuy: JesseEisenberg, now known for his role as Mark Zuckerberg in TheSocialNetwork.

* OpeningMonologue: Roger's opening monologue about sex and natural selection establishes his character.

Roger Swanson is a smooth-talking, Madison Avenue copy-writer, with an uncanny ability to cold-read people. When he isn't applying his skill by 'reminding consumers that they're missing something from their lives' and that 'his product is the only thing that can fill the void', he will be applying it to women in bars. Despite his ability, his cynicism and down-right insulting characterizations of the women around him are a turn-off, such that he is HoistByHisOwnPetard.

Roger's nephew, Nick, is visiting New York scouting universities and pays his uncle a visit. While out to lunch, Nick confesses that he doesn't have a girlfriend and finds it difficult to talk to girls. Within the family, Roger is known as a ladies man, so Nick asks his uncle for help. Roger's offer "So, you need help with the ladies, Nick?" becomes the premise of the film.

* BeneathTheMask: Roger deliberately presents himself as a smart, cool, cynically detached HandsomeLech. As the film progresses, he's shown to be lonely, insecure and emotionally unfulfilled. His tactics with women range from mildly unpleasant to downright creepy. Even his romantic success is [[UrbanLegendLoveLife clearly exaggerated].