| The D Train | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by |
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| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Giles Nuttgens |
| Edited by | Terel Gibson |
| Music by | Andrew Dost |
Production companies |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 101 minutes[3] |
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| Language | English |
| Budget | $3.4 million[4] |
| Box office | $774,780[2] |
The D Train (also known asBad Bromance)[5] is a 2015black comedy film written and directed byJarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel in theirdirectorial debuts, and starsJack Black andJames Marsden. The film premiered at the11th Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2015, and was released in the United States on May 8, 2015, byIFC Films.
Dan Landsman is the self-proclaimed chairman of his Pittsburgh high school's alumni committee. While planning the twenty-year reunion, Dan has the idea of convincing Oliver Lawless, the most popular guy in his graduating class (and now a TV-commercial celebrity) to return, thinking that this will make people want to attend.
On February 10, 2014, it was announced thatJack Black andJames Marsden would star in a comedy film, directing debut ofJarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel, which Black's Electric Dynamite produced withMike White's RipCord Productions and Ben Latham-Jones andBarnaby Thompson ofEaling Studios.[7][6]
According to a casting call, the shooting was set to begin on March 17, 2014, inMetairie,Louisiana.[8] Later on March 19,Jack Black was spotted during the filming ofThe D Train inNew Orleans.[9] Due to Black's schedule, the film was shot in just 21 days.[10]
In October 2014,Andrew Dost was hired to compose the music for the film.[11]
A Pittsburgh sports radio segment playing when Dan arrives at a sports bar includes an audio cameo by John-Paul "JP" Flaim, Eric "EB" Bickel, Johnny "Cakes" Auville and Jason "Lurch" Bishop, the titular hosts ofThe Sports Junkies in Washington. The Junkies also released audio of them reading their lines in studio.[12]
The D Train premiered at the2015 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2015. Shortly after,IFC Films acquired U.S. distribution rights for $3 million in a bidding war against studios includingLionsgate,Fox Searchlight,Broad Green Pictures andAlchemy.[13] The film was released theatrically in the United States on May 8, 2015, byIFC Films.[2]
In its opening weekend, the film grossed $447,524 from 1,009 theaters ($444 per theater), which is the 15th worst opening for a wide release film of all time.[14] In its second weekend, the film was pulled from 847 screens, and its weekend-to-weekend gross fell 96.5%, as it only earned $15,714 ($97 per theater). As of November 10, 2015, the film had grossed $771,317.[2]
OnRotten Tomatoes the film has a rating of 53% based on 134 reviews, with an average rating of 5.70/10. The site's consensus reads, "The D Train offers Jack Black a too-rare opportunity to showcase his range, but its story and characters are too sloppily conceived to hold together as a film."[15] OnMetacritic the film has a weighted average score of 55 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[16]
TheNew York Post described the film as "cute, breezy fun".[17]