Friday, November 7, 2008

MOVIE REVIEW - Role Models

Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott star in the new off beat comedy this weekend, Role Models. From time to time I am pleasantly surprised at the box office, and today and Role Models did it for me.

Thirty five-ish year old Danny (Rudd) and Wheeler (Scott) work for a fictitious energy drink company. They go around to schools and try to convince kids to stay off drugs and alchohol and to persuade them to drink their energy drink instead. After a series of mishaps and then a final run in with the law, Danny and Wheeler are sentenced to 150 hours of community service at a non profit camp where they are to mentor kids. With an obvious generation gap and a lack of desire they are given Ronnie and Augie as their projects. Ronnie is a little guy with street smarts and horrible language and Augie is the geeky Dungeon and Dragons kid, who lives in a fantasy world of make believe at the age of about 16.

RM is not as complicated as it may sound. Look, there are moments of inappropriateness in this movie, and somethings that don't work, but to be honest RM really is fun. What it is, is a parody on the whole thing. On Danny and Wheeler, on the kids they mentor, and the camp they work at. Jane Lynch is the show stealer here though. She is Sweeny, the leader of the non profit camp. She does a wonderful parody on the former addict turned leader. She is really funny in her small role as the is-she-really-cured camp counselor. One of the really funny small role performances you'll see. Elizabeth Banks has a small role as Beth, Danny's girlfriend, she is always fun and engaging. And a cast of supporting actors in silly roles make RM really fun.

To be honest, Role Models won't work for everyone. But once you get the fact this this is parody, and silliness it's easier to swallow the Kool-Aid here. It's just for laughs period. The dialogue at times is snappy and fun, and foul and straight forward at other times. But to me, there's a sense of lightness that doesn't make it offensive. And to be square with you again, it's been a while since I've heard a theater laugh like they did today. It doesn't all work, but it's okay. Role Models, if nothing else, go laugh at Jane Lynch, she's really funny!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Role Models (2008) have you seen I have. It was kind of a drama. Love to fallen in with the story. Two different life styles shown by the main correctors it is thinking time for two young men when they crash in to jail. Mostly I love the way they behave with the children. It was learning episode for the youngsters of ours. I sit and watch it from http://www.80millionmoviesfree.com all in all grate drama for a movie