Can’t Hardly Wait was released June 12, 1998. Initially a box-office disappointment, it later became a cult teen movie after its release on VHS and DVD. This Reel Trivial list covers 18 verified facts on its cast, production, and other details.
- Smash Mouth recorded a cover version of the song, “Can’t Get Enough of You Baby”, for the film that played as the second end-credits song. The original version was recorded by The Four Seasons in 1965.
- During the opening credits, a girl’s voice asks if “Matt” has heard about the huge party going on that night. The voice belongs to writer/co-director Deborah Kaplan. Co-director Harry Elfont’s voice is then heard asking where the party is.
- The writers originally named Amanda “Wendy” in the script, but changed it to “Amanda” to directly tie her name to Barry Manilow’s song, “Mandy”, and thereby give Ethan Embry’s character a definite “sign.”
- The working title for the film was “The Party.”
- The high school teacher is played by actress Jamie Donnelly. Donnelly is known for playing the character Jan in Grease. Also, the high school scenes in Can’t Hardly Wait were shot at John Marshall High School in Los Angeles, also featured in Grease for the carnival scenes.
- The filmmakers couldn’t get the rights to use Star Wars action figures in the scene where William (Charlie Korsmo) explains his plan for revenge using toys and a mockup model of the house party. This is why the Grand Moff Tarkin and Boba Fett action figures are referenced, but never shown on camera. Instead, the guys end up being represented by KISS figures and a Spawn action figure. Todd McFarlane allowed the use of the toys, as McFarlane created Spawn and McFarlane Toys produced KISS figures at the time.
- Breckin Meyer plays the singer of the band Love Burger. Meyer and co-director Deborah Kaplan were dating at the time, and married in 2001.
- When William walks into the kitchen to get a beer, a girl can be seen staring intently at a banana. The girl is played by Amber Benson, who originally had a larger role as a perpetually stoned girl. The scenes were ultimately cut to comply with MPAA demands and allow the film a PG-13 rating.
- In the beginning of the film, Ethan Embry’s hair color is a more vibrant red. The opening scenes were shot late in the production, and Embry had dyed his hair black. Deborah Kaplan stated that they had to paint his hair to match the color from previous scenes.
- Jason Segel’s film debut. He plays partygoer “Matt”.
- The cop (Reni Santoni), has a name-tag that says Bobbitt. This is a nod to Russell Bobbitt, the film’s prop master.
- When Preston and Denise are sitting on the hood of his car near the end of the film, Denise gets up and the piece of black marker tape that marks where actress Lauren Ambrose is supposed to sit can be seen on the hood.
- Additionally, at the train station when Amanda (Jennifer Love-Hewitt) turns to look back at Preston after they part, a strip of orange marker tape can be seen on the floor to mark where she should turn.
- Adam Hann-Byrd, who played young Alan Parrish in Jumanji (1995), was originally cast as William. Not long into filming, Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont realized they had miscast the role. Charlie Korsmo was cast after the directors watched an audition tape Korsmo had sent in while busy attending MIT.1
- In the diner the day after the party, a flyer for Carson-Dyles Realty is seen on the window. The two “realtors” in the photograph are Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont. Carson Dyle is also the name of a character from the 1963 film, Charade.
- William’s friends are credited as “X-Phile #1” and “X-Phile #2” in the end titles. Both wear t-shirts that read “Trust No One” and “The Truth Is Out There”, popular quotes from The X-Files.
- Deborah Kaplan has said that the sound effects for the alien ship beaming X-Phile #1 and X-Phile #2 at the end were taken from the spacecraft sounds in Independence Day (1996).
- Released on VHS and DVD on November 17, 1998.
