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Angus

 Angus
type
TVTItem
 Angus
label
Angus
 Angus
page
Angus
 Angus
comment
Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_1'); })A 1995 coming-of-age teen movie based on Chris Crutcher's short story "A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune", directed by Patrick Read Johnson and starring Charlie Talbert and a young James Van Der Beek in their first film roles.Talbert stars as Angus Bethune, who in his own words is "a fat kid who's good at science and fair at football." He's also got a vicious rivalry with pretty-boy Jerk Jock Rick Sanford (Van Der Beek), who decides to play a cruel prank on Angus by rigging an election that nominates Angus as the Winter Ball King opposite Rick's girlfriend, Melissa LeFevre (Ariana Richards). On one hand, Angus knows he's being set up for humiliation and doesn't want to play along, but on the other hand, he's had a crush on the (in his mind) unattainable Melissa for years, leaving him unsure of what to do. Helping him along are his geeky best friend Troy (Chris Owen), his loving and slightly unorthodox mom (Kathy Bates) and his equally loving and much less orthodox grandpa, Ivan (George C. Scott).Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_2'); })Much like the similar Lucas, this film is one of those extremely rare teen movies starring an awkward social outcast who's not portrayed as an object of ridicule for the audience, and like Lucas, the protagonist pursues much more noble and sympathetic ends than the stock teen-flick goal of simply "getting laid." Roger Ebert loved the film for precisely these reasons.The movie was officially unavailable on DVD for a long time, but can now be purchased as a made-to-order DVD from Warner Bros.. (who inherited the film via the Turner Broadcasting merger— it was one of Turner's few solo film productions, and was distributed in theatres by another of Turner's acquisitions, New Line Cinema).
 Angus
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2021-08-21T07:39:52Z
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2021-08-21T07:39:52Z
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Dropped link to ColorMotifs: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN
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Dropped link to SlobsVsSnobs: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN
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ColorMotifs
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SlobsVsSnobs
 Angus
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DBTropes
 Angus / int_1649e053
type
Your Mom
 Angus / int_1649e053
comment
Your Mom: When Rick makes fun of Angus having his clothes stolen ("I'd lend you my shirt, but I'm afraid it might rip"), Troy is quick to fire back, "That's because it's cheap. Like your mother."
 Angus / int_1649e053
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Angus / int_1649e053
 Angus / int_23473ae7
type
Adaptation Expansion
 Angus / int_23473ae7
comment
Adaptation Expansion: The source material was a short story, so obviously there's a lot of this going on, although it stays true to the original premise.
 Angus / int_23473ae7
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 Angus / int_23473ae7
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Angus / int_23473ae7
 Angus / int_237404cc
type
Ironic Echo
 Angus / int_237404cc
comment
"You broke his nose!" A very humorous Ironic Echo of this occurs at the end.
 Angus / int_237404cc
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 Angus / int_237404cc
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Angus / int_237404cc
 Angus / int_28cd01ca
type
Disappeared Dad
 Angus / int_28cd01ca
comment
Disappeared Dad: Angus's father had a heart attack while Angus' mom was in labor. This was changed from the original short story where Angus' parents were alive, but both were gay. Word of God states that this was done so that his parents' homosexuality could not be construed as a principal reason Angus is tormented by his peers. (A line still exists in the film where Meg refers to the magnet school Angus is applying for as "somewhere he can go where he won't have to account for who his parents are".)
 Angus / int_28cd01ca
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Angus / int_28cd01ca
 Angus / int_2f253c94
type
Glass Cannon
 Angus / int_2f253c94
comment
Glass Cannon: Rick himself is athletic enough to be a star football player and his punches are enough to hurt Angus. However, he himself goes down pretty easily if Angus is pissed off enough to put a hurting on him.
 Angus / int_2f253c94
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1.0
 Angus / int_2f253c94
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 Angus
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Angus / int_2f253c94
 Angus / int_319e4a2f
type
Even Evil Has Standards
 Angus / int_319e4a2f
comment
Even Evil Has Standards: Rick's toadies both found the final prank funny, but they draw the line and try to stop him when he loses it and physically attacks Angus. They also both applaud "The Reason You Suck" Speech Angus gives to Rick right afterwards. Much to Rick's anger, they also applaud Angus after he shrugs off the prank and has a less than embarrassing slow dance with Melissa.
 Angus / int_319e4a2f
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Angus / int_319e4a2f
 Angus / int_34dcfc96
type
Kick the Dog
 Angus / int_34dcfc96
comment
Kick the Dog: Whether it's playing cruel pranks, lying about Melissa's dread of dancing with Angus just to hurt his feelings, or accidentally breaking Troy's arm when the kid tries to run away, Rick punts several puppies clear through the goalposts in his quest to humiliate Angus.
 Angus / int_34dcfc96
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Angus / int_34dcfc96
 Angus / int_51a24979
type
The Freelance Shame Squad
 Angus / int_51a24979
comment
The Freelance Shame Squad: The squad pops up when Rick runs Angus' boxers up the flagpole, and again when he pulls his prank at the Winter Ball crowning. Troy, Melissa and Principal Metcalf are the only ones unamused by either act.
 Angus / int_51a24979
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 Angus / int_51a24979
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Angus / int_51a24979
 Angus / int_7464705c
type
Arc Words
 Angus / int_7464705c
comment
Arc Words: "I'm still here!" And "Screw 'em" is used to great effect several times.
 Angus / int_7464705c
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1.0
 Angus / int_7464705c
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 Angus
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Angus / int_7464705c
 Angus / int_76a5eaf8
type
Spotlight-Stealing Squad
 Angus / int_76a5eaf8
comment
Spotlight-Stealing Squad: Rick is this for Angus; at the football game at the start of the film, when Rick's pass is intercepted, Angus causes the fumble that Rick recovers and scores the game-winner. The crowd rushes Rick while stepping over a prone Angus.
 Angus / int_76a5eaf8
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Angus / int_76a5eaf8
 Angus / int_7a7ec1e8
type
Violence is the Only Option
 Angus / int_7a7ec1e8
comment
Violence Is the Only Option: Once Rick realizes his Sadist Show he worked so hard to arrange for prom goes well for Angus, he gets vicious and sucker punches Angus. Angus shoves Rick back into the steps of the stage, but then subverts this by stating that despite being quite capable of beating him, he doesn't feel the need to compete with him at all. Sheathe Your Sword
 Angus / int_7a7ec1e8
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Angus / int_7a7ec1e8
 Angus / int_7b6e47a5
type
Armor-Piercing Question
 Angus / int_7b6e47a5
comment
Armor-Piercing Question: "So which is it, Rick: are you normal, or are you just one of us?"
 Angus / int_7b6e47a5
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 Angus / int_7b6e47a5
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Angus / int_7b6e47a5
 Angus / int_7d89315b
type
"The Reason You Suck" Speech
 Angus / int_7d89315b
comment
"The Reason You Suck" Speech: Angus gives a truly fantastic one to Rick.
 Angus / int_7d89315b
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1.0
 Angus / int_7d89315b
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Angus / int_7d89315b
 Angus / int_805deb6e
type
Small Role, Big Impact
 Angus / int_805deb6e
comment
Small Role, Big Impact: Melissa is the force that drives the motivations of Angus throughout the film but she herself doesn't really start getting any real important focus or development until the third act of the film.
 Angus / int_805deb6e
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1.0
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Angus / int_805deb6e
 Angus / int_83a903f6
type
Stepford Smiler
 Angus / int_83a903f6
comment
Stepford Smiler: Though she seems quite cheerful and always has a smile ready for her friends, Melissa is secretly depressed, suffers from bulimia, and it's suggested that her boyfriend Rick may be abusive to her.
 Angus / int_83a903f6
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1.0
 Angus / int_83a903f6
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 Angus
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Angus / int_83a903f6
 Angus / int_849fefd8
type
Tacky Tuxedo
 Angus / int_849fefd8
comment
Tacky Tuxedo: Since it was the only one in his size, Angus wears a particularly hideous purple one to the Winter Ball. It's plum.
 Angus / int_849fefd8
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1.0
 Angus / int_849fefd8
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 Angus
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Angus / int_849fefd8
 Angus / int_863fac26
type
Jerk Jock
 Angus / int_863fac26
comment
Jerk Jock: Rick Sanford, all the way.
 Angus / int_863fac26
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1.0
 Angus / int_863fac26
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 Angus
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Angus / int_863fac26
 Angus / int_86b21114
type
Badass Boast
 Angus / int_86b21114
comment
Badass Boast: "I'm still here, asshole!"
 Angus / int_86b21114
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1.0
 Angus / int_86b21114
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Angus / int_86b21114
 Angus / int_9315c635
type
Lovable Jock
 Angus / int_9315c635
comment
Lovable Jock: Angus counts as this since he's on the football team, being the sympathetic protagonist of the movie. Ironically, being a football player doesn't seem to raise his social status much and he still has to struggle to be able to get the girl and be at peace with himself through it all.
 Angus / int_9315c635
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1.0
 Angus / int_9315c635
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Angus / int_9315c635
 Angus / int_993cf18f
type
Not So Different
 Angus / int_993cf18f
comment
Not So Different: Once he gets to know her, Angus learns that despite being a popular, attractive cheerleader, Melissa is just as scared and insecure about herself as he is about himself. She even sweats when she gets nervous, just like he does.
 Angus / int_993cf18f
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1.0
 Angus / int_993cf18f
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 Angus
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Angus / int_993cf18f
 Angus / int_9dd2cbc2
type
CloudCuckooLander
 Angus / int_9dd2cbc2
comment
Cloud Cuckoo Lander: Grandpa's fiancee April is a good-hearted but somewhat odd bird, and not just because she wants to marry a man thirty years her senior.
 Angus / int_9dd2cbc2
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 Angus / int_9dd2cbc2
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 Angus
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Angus / int_9dd2cbc2
 Angus / int_a4c37cbe
type
Mood Whiplash
 Angus / int_a4c37cbe
comment
Also, Angus waking up his grandfather with a recording of Reveille. Becomes Mood Whiplash the last time, when it doesn't work.
 Angus / int_a4c37cbe
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 Angus / int_a4c37cbe
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 Angus
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Angus / int_a4c37cbe
 Angus / int_ac12cde1
type
Bully Hunter
 Angus / int_ac12cde1
comment
Bully Hunter: Deconstructed. Angus is perfectly capable of taking on Rick mano-a-mano (he pretty much spent his early childhood breaking Rick's nose at least once a grade). However, that's not going to help his immediate situation. It never really did. Bullies do what they do by seeking out what they perceive to be easy targets. Why doesn't Rick Sanford back down despite having a glass nose? Because Angus is an easy target for Rick in another form: Angus' naturally low social standing, and the fact that Melissa, Angus' object of obsession, is Rick's girlfriend. A few broken noses is probably worth the sick kicks he's been getting with a killer hand like that.
 Angus / int_ac12cde1
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 Angus / int_ac12cde1
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Angus / int_ac12cde1
 Angus / int_b2226c2f
type
Sheathe Your Sword
 Angus / int_b2226c2f
comment
Sheathe Your Sword
 Angus / int_b2226c2f
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1.0
 Angus / int_b2226c2f
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 Angus
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Angus / int_b2226c2f
 Angus / int_b2407a69
type
Talk to the Fist
 Angus / int_b2407a69
comment
Talk to the Fist: A particularly heelish one, as Rick sucker punches Angus during the climactic scene.
 Angus / int_b2407a69
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 Angus / int_b2407a69
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 Angus
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Angus / int_b2407a69
 Angus / int_b8e3f20a
type
Demoted to Extra
 Angus / int_b8e3f20a
comment
Demoted to Extra: Several scenes with Grandpa's fiance April were left on the cutting room floor (they're usually restored in cable TV airings); in the theatrical cut, we don't meet her until the day of their wedding.
 Angus / int_b8e3f20a
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 Angus / int_b8e3f20a
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 Angus
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Angus / int_b8e3f20a
 Angus / int_c1e2c633
type
Academic Athlete
 Angus / int_c1e2c633
comment
Academic Athlete: Angus is good enough to be on the football team and excels in academics at the same time.
 Angus / int_c1e2c633
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1.0
 Angus / int_c1e2c633
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 Angus
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Angus / int_c1e2c633
 Angus / int_c23525d4
type
Character Title
 Angus / int_c23525d4
comment
Character Title
 Angus / int_c23525d4
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 Angus / int_c23525d4
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Angus / int_c23525d4
 Angus / int_d397657d
type
Hoist by His Own Petard
 Angus / int_d397657d
comment
Hoist by His Own Petard: Rick rigs the ball voting so Angus will be humiliated at being matched up with Rick's beautiful girlfriend. Melissa has far more in common with Angus than Rick realizes and takes a liking to him in the end.
 Angus / int_d397657d
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 Angus / int_d397657d
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 Angus
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Angus / int_d397657d
 Angus / int_dca70c44
type
Reasonable Authority Figure
 Angus / int_dca70c44
comment
Reasonable Authority Figure: Principal Metcalf is very sympathetic to Angus, and he frowns heavily on Rick's cruelty.
 Angus / int_dca70c44
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1.0
 Angus / int_dca70c44
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 Angus
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Angus / int_dca70c44
 Angus / int_e563bf09
type
Insistent Terminology
 Angus / int_e563bf09
comment
It's plum.
 Angus / int_e563bf09
featureApplicability
1.0
 Angus / int_e563bf09
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 Angus
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Angus / int_e563bf09
 Angus / int_e567510d
type
Determinator
 Angus / int_e567510d
comment
Determinator: Discussed by Angus' grandpa: Superman is not brave, because he is invincible, and you can't be brave when you're invincible. But it's the people who are destructible and know it, and keep on going, who are truly brave. Badass Boast: "I'm still here, asshole!"
 Angus / int_e567510d
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 Angus / int_e567510d
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 Angus
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Angus / int_e567510d
 Angus / int_f9f2c33
type
Running Gag
 Angus / int_f9f2c33
comment
Running Gag: "You broke his nose!" A very humorous Ironic Echo of this occurs at the end. Also, Angus waking up his grandfather with a recording of Reveille. Becomes Mood Whiplash the last time, when it doesn't work.
 Angus / int_f9f2c33
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Angus / int_f9f2c33
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Angus

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Angus
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Birth-Death Juxtaposition / int_b9a1babe
 Angus
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Death by Childbirth / int_b9a1babe
 Angus
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Films of 1995–1999 / int_b9a1babe
 Angus
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Nominated as a Prank / int_b9a1babe
 Angus
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Reveille / int_b9a1babe
 Angus
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Tacky Tuxedo / int_b9a1babe
 Angus
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The Freelance Shame Squad / int_b9a1babe
 Angus
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Widowed at the Wedding / int_b9a1babe