Review: Role Models (2008)

Director: David Wain (Stella)

Cast: Paul Rudd (I Love You Man, Knocked Up), Seann William Scott (American Pie, The Dukes of Hazzard), Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad), Bobb'e J. Thompson, Elizabeth Banks (W., Zack and Miri Make a Porno), Jane Lynch (The 40 Year Old Virgin)

The Deal: Danny (Rudd) and Wheeler (Scott) are sentenced to 150 hours of community service for Sturdy Wings, a outreach program that provides kids with an adult mentor run by Gayle (Lyncg), and ex cocaine addict. Danny, who is struggling to get over his break up with Beth (Banks),  is assigned Augie (Mintz-Plasse), a geek who enjoys live action role playing in a Medieval reenactment society. Wheeler is assigned Roonie (Thompson), a foul-mouthed 5th grader with a complete lack of respect for his elders. After finally connecting with their "littles", Danny and Wheeler both screw up and seek to set things right.

Thoughts: The problem with most comedies these days is that the humor is just a hodgepodge of over-used and unoriginal jokes thrown together into a quickly written and unbelievable plot. But where so many have failed, Role Models succeeds. Every character in the film is a real-world plausibility, and though the plot at times is convenient, it's actually believable. It remains coherent while keeping a high level of comedy, and every character has something to learn from the people they meet.

Rudd and Scott are both at home playing horrendous adults with unsatisfying lives. Mintz-Plasse channels his inner McLovin again, perfectly playing the high-school geek living in his own fantasy word with parents that just don't understand. Thompson was an absolute gem in this movie. His lines are fairly funny to begin with, but coming from a 5th grader and with his delivery, he knocks them out of the ballpark. Lynch is absolutely hilarious, because everyone knows, or will know, that you don't try and BS a BSer.

Comedies live or die with the quality and originality of their jokes, so it only seems fit that I include a few of my favorite lines. They don't spoil the movie, but will give you a taste of what's in store. After meeting Augie, Danny says "I bet if I suggested a game of Quidditch he'd cum in his pants." I'm a big Harry Potter fan, and with a geek like Augie, this one left me laughing for days. Ronnie was full of great one-liners, but I love when Wheeler explains that even if you like looking at boobies, you have to know how to do it, to which Ronnie says "I like your take on Boobies". The kid is in 5th grade and what comes out of his mouth is dirtier and funnier than the funniest person you know.

Verdict: A solid comedy that stands out against 90% of it's genre. It's full of great laughs, and holds a good story through the end. If you're looking for some laughs, this is a good place to start. ☆☆☆☆