Brian Cogan

Brian Cogan’s name pops up in connection with Puddle Cruiser (1996), which is, honestly, kind of a cult gem if you’re into that late-‘90s indie comedy vibe. The whole thing is set on a college campus, and it just nails that scrappy, semi-chaotic energy of broke students trying to pull off impressively dumb stunts. The story follows this guy, Felix, who gets caught “borrowing” food from the dining hall, and suddenly he’s roped into this makeshift trial by the campus judicial board (which is, frankly, just as clueless as he is). You’ve got a blend of low-stakes drama, lots of side-eye glances, and that sense that everyone’s just trying to get by with the least possible effort. The humor’s dry, sometimes leaning into full-on absurd, and the characters feel like people you might’ve actually met at some party where someone’s serving punch out of a trash can. There’s a messy love triangle—of course—and a bunch of banter that’s both awkward and weirdly endearing. Puddle Cruiser was a big stepping stone for the Broken Lizard crew, who went on to make Super Troopers, so you’ll spot some familiar faces if you’re a fan. It’s not flashy—pretty much the opposite—but there’s a scruffy charm to the whole thing that makes it stick with you. It’s like a snapshot of a bunch of goofballs stumbling through college, failing upwards, and doing their best not to get expelled. If you dig underdog stories that don’t take themselves too seriously, this one’s worth a watch.