Movie Review: 'Role Models' out of season but still entertaining

By: Nick Draper/Staff Reporter

Posted: 11/14/08

In the middle of Fall, the last thing I would expect is a "summer-time" comedy.

For "Role Models," directed by David Wain, the timing is unusually appropriate. This oddball of a film is undoubtedly funny, a far-cry from the family style movies that many are used to seeing come out before the Christmas season.

The plot follows Danny Donahue (Paul Rudd) and his co-worker Wheeler (Seann William Scott) as they attempt to sell an energy drink to various schools. Of course, this turns out to be the worst day ever as Danny's girlfriend Beth, (Elizabeth Banks), not only refuses his wedding proposal, she flat-out dumps him.

Disgruntled, enraged and after parking in a no-park zone, Danny and Wheeler find themselves crashing their company's vehicle headfirst into a horse statue after ripping free from a tow truck.

Instead of going to prison, they are sentenced to community service where they must help out two kids, Augie (Chirstopher Mintz-Plasse) and Ron (Bobb'e J. Thompson), to get over their "social-problems." Augie is your average, cape-wearing geek whereas Ron is a 10-year-old trash talking hustler.

While the plot is a tad cliche', the acting of Rudd and Scott make up for it. Fans of Scott's role in "American Pie" as Stifler will feel right at home because his role as Wheeler is almost identical, though he's twice as dumb and twice as funny. Rudd also seems to take a bit from his role as Pete in "Knocked Up" to fit the part as the detached, pessimistic part of Danny.

Both of them work together as a team throughout the entire flick and any given scene with them in it is hilarious.

If you are looking for a great family-oriented movie, go see "Madagascar 2" because "Role Models" can be raunchy at times, sometimes unnecessarily so. I like to see a little bit of deeper comedy every now and then as opposed to the barrage of dry, overused toilet humor.

Also, there were certain parts of the movie that almost seemed to be aimed towards a younger audience, something I find unsettling when the movie is obviously written for the more mature moviegoer.

Still, the movie is a laugh riot and well worth the ticket price.

Even though it would seem the world becomes a little more serious, it's good to see more comedy rich movies like "Role Models" to help us relax and enjoy