Okay, rewind your minds with me for a second. Picture the late 90s. The internet was still that crackly, dial-up frontier, and George Lucas was gearing up to unleash The Phantom Menace upon an unsuspecting (or perhaps too suspecting) world. Excitement and trepidation were sky-high. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, this little gem appeared, passed around like digital samizdat among fans: George Lucas in Love. It wasn’t a blockbuster epic found on the New Releases wall at Blockbuster; it was something different, something intimate and incredibly clever, capturing lightning in a bottle.
### Before the Dark Times, Before the Prequels
This wasn't some big studio production, folks. George Lucas in Love (1999) was born from the hallowed halls of the University of Southern California (USC) film school, a student project helmed by director Joe Nussbaum (who’d later give us flicks like Sleepover and Prom). Crafted with co-writers Timothy Dowling and Daniel Shere, it had that spark of genius you sometimes find when creativity trumps budget. Speaking of which, can you believe this polished piece reportedly cost only around $25,000? That’s less than the catering budget for a single scene in the films it lovingly parodies.
The premise is pure gold: It’s 1967, and a young, creatively blocked George Lucas (Martin Hynes) is struggling to write his thesis film script at USC. He complains about needing laser swords, spaceships, maybe a princess... you know, the usual student film anxieties. His classmates and professor offer less-than-helpful advice, mirroring familiar Star Wars archetypes – there’s a smoothly confident rival (Jason Peck as Han), a supportive, slightly shaggy best friend (Aaron playing Chewie, essentially), and a wise, encouraging professor standing in for Obi-Wan.
### The Force of Parody is Strong With This One
What elevates George Lucas in Love beyond a simple skit is its brilliant central conceit, a direct riff on the then-recent hit Shakespeare in Love (1998). George encounters Marion (Lisa Jakub, instantly recognizable to many of us from Mrs. Doubtfire and Independence Day), a strong-willed, intelligent woman who becomes his muse. As their sweet, slightly awkward romance unfolds, moments, lines of dialogue, and even sound effects directly inspire the iconic elements of A New Hope.
The genius lies in the subtlety (and sometimes, the glorious lack thereof). A frustrating toaster inspires R2-D2's chirps. Marion’s distinctive hairstyle? Check. Her defiant stand against authority figures? Double check. A casual mention of "stupid farmers"? Bingo. Even the Wilhelm scream makes a cameo! The film is densely packed with these knowing winks, rewarding eagle-eyed (and eared) Star Wars devotees without feeling like a checklist. It’s a love letter written in the margins of Lucas's own mythology. Martin Hynes nails the earnest awkwardness of young George, while Lisa Jakub brings warmth and spark to Marion, making their connection genuinely charming.
### From Campus Project to Cult Phenomenon
Remember how this thing spread? Before YouTube made "viral" a household term, George Lucas in Love achieved legitimate word-of-mouth (or rather, word-of-email) fame. It dominated the festival circuit, winning awards and charming audiences everywhere. It wasn't something you rented; it was something you discovered, often through a friend burning it onto a CD-R or finding a fuzzy QuickTime file online. That feeling of being in on a fantastic secret was part of its magic. Rumor has it that George Lucas himself saw the film and genuinely enjoyed the affectionate ribbing, which is pretty cool considering how protective he could be of his universe. It’s a testament to the film’s quality and heart that it earned such widespread goodwill.
Watching it now, it still feels remarkably fresh. The production values are surprisingly slick for a student film, capturing the late 60s university vibe effectively. The editing is sharp, the pacing perfect for its roughly 8-minute runtime. It doesn’t overstay its welcome; it delivers its punchline with wit and warmth and bows out gracefully. It’s a reminder of a time when fan creativity could blossom and find an audience in unexpected ways, fueled by genuine affection for the source material.
Rating: 9/10
This rating reflects its near-perfect execution as a parody, its clever writing, charming performances, and its status as a pioneering piece of viral fan filmmaking. It's incredibly smart, funny, and warm-hearted. It only misses a perfect score perhaps because its appeal is so intrinsically tied to knowing Star Wars and Shakespeare in Love, but for fans, it's practically essential.
Final Thought: Before the endless stream of fan films and parodies online, George Lucas in Love was a handcrafted, witty tribute that felt like finding a rare bootleg tape – short, sweet, and infinitely rewatchable for anyone who ever dreamed of galaxies far, far away while stuck in a college library. A true Force ghost from the pre-YouTube era.