Highball is a 2002 American comedy film directed by Noah Baumbach, and written by Baumbach, Carlos Jacott, and Christopher Reed. The film was shot over six days in 1997, financed with money left over from Baumbach's previous film Mr. Jealousy. Highball was never completed to Baumbach's satisfaction and he ultimately abandoned it. In April 2002, a version of the film assembled by the producers was released on VHS against Baumbach's wishes. Upon release, the film was credited as having been directed by "Ernie Fusco" and written by "Jesse Carter" after being disowned by Baumbach and his co-writers.

Plot

Diane, part of a newly married couple, Travis and Diane, decides to improve her social life by throwing three great parties and inviting people to their Brooklyn apartment. The film follows this pursuit over the course of a year. Friends' (Justine Bateman, Peter Bogdanovich, Dean Cameron) relationships are tested during a birthday party, a Halloween party and a New Year's Eve party.

Cast

Removal of credit

Baumbach has removed his credit for the film, explaining in an interview with The A.V. Club: "And it was a funny script. But it was just too ambitious. We didn't have enough time, we didn't finish it, it didn't look good, it was just a whole ... mess. [Laughs.] We couldn't get it done, and I had a falling out with the producer. He abandoned it, and I had no money to finish it, to go back and maybe get two more days or something. Then later, it was put out on DVD without my approval."

DVD

The Making Of Highball is a 75-minute featurette which includes interviews with Joel Kastelberg, Christopher Reed, Lauren Katz, John Lehr, Rae Dawn Chong, Peter Bogdanovich, and Dean Cameron.