There is a film enthusiast in Los Angeles who is becoming the go-to-guy for wrangling and hosting 1990s film cast reunions: 24-year-old Kory Davis.

The grinning, self-declared “Movie Dude” has spent the past year commiserating with his favorite late-twentieth-century film actors and producers to the delight of almost a dozen sold-out screenings at classic movie theaters around Los Angeles.

In just the past year, Davis has hosted screenings and interviewed members of the casts of the American Pie series, the Harold & Kumar series, Mortal Kombat, The Power Rangers Movie, Bride of Chucky, Jawbreaker, The Wizard, Empire Records, The Girl Next Door, and 10 Things I Hate About You.  

But unlike most interviewers who ask open-ended questions to bored Hollywood stars, Davis is apt to insert his own commentary during his Q & A sessions. The actors sitting with him on wooden stools at the front of the packed theaters are always visibly amused by Davis’ verbose, unfiltered comments and curious questions.

“Alot of moderators ask very generic questions,” Davis explains. “I want to know how many times did Jason Biggs f–k the pie. How does the director even direct that?”

Kory Davis leading a discussion with the cast of Harold & Kumar on the film’s 10th anniversary. Photo by Antonio E. Pedreira.

As Davis put the 10 Things I Hate About You reunion together last November, actor David Krumholtz flattered Davis’ abilities, saying that in order to coax Joseph Gordon-Levitt to attend, he plead, ‘this kid is awesome, he’s not just a studio moderator.”  Joe did indeed show up to the midnight reunion and screening at Santa Monica’s Nuart Theater. Joe even stayed until his movie ended at half past 2:00 AM.

Growing Up in the Projection Room

One of Davis’ advantages is that he was as young as five years-old when he first saw some of the movies he screens. That’s a benefit of having an older brother and sister cool enough to show you PG-13 and R-rated movies. In fact, Davis spent his formative years watching teen comedies and horror films in the projection room of movie theaters in Louisiana.

By 2000, after seeing I Know What You Did Last Summer, She’s All That, Boys and Girls, and Down to You, the ten-year-old Davis was thoroughly inspired by the poise of the various characters played by Freddie Prinze, Jr.

Davis was so moved that he penned a three-page hand-written letter to the actor detailing how Prinze’s roles make him feel better about his struggles in middle school. Davis admits, “it was a sad, tragic letter,” and even more-so that Prinze never responded.

Still, much like the endings in his favorite 1990s films, Davis’ solitude in the projection room with just a 35MM roll by his side, his struggles eventually turned into a something great: a career.

During college, Davis interned at William Morris Endeavor doing story development. And sixteen years after first seeing Last Summer, Davis not only received a film degree from Columbia College, but was handed the degree at graduation by none other than the film’s star, Jennifer Love-Hewitt.

American Pie and Beyond

Only a year out of college, Davis crossed paths with Jon Hurwitz, the co-writer-director of the fourth installation of the American Pie series, as well as the co-creator of the Harold & Kumar series. Davis presented himself as the number-one fan of the American Pie series, and Hurwitz took him up on the idea to reunite the cast for the film’s 15th anniversary in the summer of 2014.

Clad in a shirt featuring a pie with a hole in it, Davis hosted an immaculate question and crude commentary session at the New Beverly Cinema. He was easily the youngest person in front of the crowd, with Jason Biggs, Tara Reid, John Cho, and Eddie Kaye Thomas all at least 10 years his senior.

“It was great, many of these actors know they have had successful careers because of these movies, so let’s celebrate it,” Davis describes the evening.

And celebrate they did. At one point, Davis voiced into the microphone his preferences, ranking the second American Pie film as “the funniest”. Then, Davis chastised the plot and love interest of the third film. The reunited cast members shot themselves a “did he just say that” look. But they knew, this was coming from a fan who still loves the film as much as he did when he first saw it at age 9.

Davis’ success at reuniting and interviewing 1990s film casts has earned him much acclaim from his subjects. Hurwitz recently posted his praise of the Movie Dude on Facebook: “Davis is the awesome young man who put together the amazing Harold & Kumar and American Pie anniversary screenings at the New Beverly last year. Since then, he’s gone on a tear, hosting events for his favorite movies all across LA. His Q & A’s are hilarious and unique, because you’re watching a genuinely obsessed movie fan mixing it up with his heroes unfiltered.”

The success is not stopping there.  Davis is about to become a touring interviewer for an upcoming Power Rangers reboot, featuring trips to Texas and even to London.

But before then, Davis has even more 1990s cinematic glory to celebrate in the coming weeks:

On Friday, March 20, Davis will be hosting a screening of I Know What You Did Last Summer and The Faculty. Cast attendees are yet to be announced, but the event will also be Davis’ 25th birthday.

On Friday, March 27, Davis will be hosting 15th anniversary screening of Coyote Ugly.

And on April 17, Davis will be hosting a reunion for the 1998 high school party bash film, Can’t Hardly Wait—and the films’ fans are eager to find out if the starring actress who handed Davis his college diploma will be in attendance. Either way, it is sure to be another fantastic night of 1990s teen comedy nostalgia.

To stay in the loop, follow Davis on Twitter: @Moviedude18

He didn’t storm into the party like [his] name was El Niño. That was 2001 (with his MTV smash hit, “Fat Lip”).

This is thirteen years later. Meet Deryck Whibley—the lead singer and guitarist from Canadian punk-rock quartet Sum 41.

After millions of album sales, dozens of world tours, and collaborations with pop superstars Ludacris and Iggy Pop, Whibley took on this night what might be the biggest step of his life:  he calmly jumped back on stage to do what he loves most with six strings and amplified distortion.

To the casual observer, Whibley’s return to the stage looked like a quick cameo by a five-foot four-inch bleach-blond guitarist in a cover band.

But only six months ago, Whibley nearly died of alcohol-induced liver and kidney failure. So this night was a momentous occasion for the 34-year-old.

While Horrible Bosses 2 was premiering at the TCL Chinese Theater a few blocks away, Whibley’s return to the stage happened at what might have been the best party in Hollywood that night—at a bowling alley of all places.

The night began with the cover band Toddsplanet, fronted by H20 founder and touring Offspring guitarist Todd Morse. The 10-piece orchestra featured a talented, energetic brood of musicians specializing in rock-hip-hop-groovy-hybrid cover songs mostly from the late 20th century. As they opened their set with covers of “Back in Black”, “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked”, and the Rolling Stones’ “Miss You”, the bowling alley turned into the House of Blues.

But this wasn’t a concert Whibley. It was actually a fundraiser for The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank—and a delightful way for Whibley to ease back into the live music scene in the company of friends and family. And Playboy Bunnies, who along with Lucky Strike Entertainment, were a sponsor of the evening.

As Toddsplanet continued their set list of eclectic cover songs, Whibley waited for his cue to come on stage while standing about ten feet back from the front with his fiance, Ariana Cooper, by his side. The mere sight of Cooper standing with her arm wrapped around Whibley elicited a beautiful balance:  she is a stunning Los Angeles model standing least six feet tall (without platform shoes), with deep brown hair reaching almost to her waist.

If this were a Sum 41 show, Whibley and Cooper would have been in the epicenter of a mosh pit. Instead, they were soaking up each song belted by Toddsplanet. They weren’t dancing, swaying, or singing. They were content to have come this far together since Whibley’s alcoholism caught up with him half a year ago.

About midway through the set, the cover band’s front man called into the crowd for a guest performer to come on stage. But it wasn’t Whibley.

Strutting to the stage in a light-blue blazer with a fat cigar sizzling in his mouth came Entourage star Jeremy Piven. After a quick twirling of the drumsticks, Piven and the rest of Toddsplanet rocked a spot-on cover of Tom Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance”.  Later on, the bearded Piven would explain that his biggest influences in the drummer’s seat are Cream’s Ginger Baker, and Nirvana’s Dave Grohl.  And it showed.  Piven never missed a beat.

Whibley and Cooper grinned and snapped pictures of Piven smashing the drums. But overall, kept their animation to a minimum.

Two songs after Piven on the drums, Morse called upon Whibley to come on stage and and perform a passionate rendition of the Rolling Stones’ “Bitch”.  Joining Whibley on the guitar was Sugarcult guitarist Marko DeSantis who would take the lead on covering the Keith Richards guitar solos. Whibley stood in the back center, gingerly headbanging and ripping loud distorted power chords on a Fender Telecaster. Didn’t crack a smile.  Didn’t sing a word. His friends, several of whom originated in Canada as well, cheered him on. Cooper smiled from ear to ear at her man.

After stepping off the stage, the first person to hug Whibley was Piven. Although Whibley and Piven were taking pictures together in the middle of the crowd during the rest of the show, it is not likely that the Emmy award-winning actor will be filling the vacant drummer job for Sum 41. Steve Jocz, the long-time Sum 41 drummer, quit the band in 2013.

When asked about how he’s doing, Whibley said with poise and pride, “I feel absolutely great…just making new stuff for Sum 41.”

For the next nine and a half songs, the cover band continued to delight the crowd of over two hundred attendees. The night culminated with a 4-minute dance party as Toddsplanet finished their set with a cover of OutKast’s “Hey Ya!”  Whibley absorbed it all from the front of the would-be mosh pit with Piven.

Still, for the foreseeable future, the tabloid press will continue to define Whibley as either the ex-husband of Avril Lavigne (they split in 2010) or as just another recovering rockstar alcoholic.

But that could hardly be further from the truth. Whibley is back in the studio churning out another Sum 41 album. He’s alcohol-free, surrounded by talented friends, and even found time during Thanksgiving week to take his Mom to a Fleetwood Mac concert at The Inglewood Forum. He may not have stormed into the party like [his] name was El Niño, but he’s back and looks better than ever.