Role Models

Role Models

Recently, I wrote a review for I Love You, Man, a movie that should have been better than it was because of a great comedic cast and a very clever concept. But it was definitely not that great - definitely a missed opportunity. And here we have Role Models, a movie that doesn't seem so clever in concept. In fact, I kind of thought it would be your-run-of-the-mill "jerks learn to be better people through the magic of mentoring kids" type of movie. Throw in a few dirty jokes, a few cute kids, and a "lesson," and the formula is complete.

Role Models is anything but that. Yes, the plot is roughly what I described above, but nothing about this movie is cute. On the contrary, Role Models revels in the fact that it refuses to go cute - it maintains its dirty and absurd tone to the very last frame - even if the ending is super happy and all the main characters inevitably learn life lessons and become better people (yes, through the magic of mentoring kids).

The cast is superb - Seann William Scott (Stiffler in American Pie) is Wheeler, a womanizer who is mentoring the young and crude Bobbi J. Thompson (Tracy Jordan's son on 30 Rock) and Paul Rudd is at his sardonic, cynical, misanthropic and ab-libbing best as Danny, a man who pretty much hates everything and is now forced to mentor Augie (Superbad's Christopher Mintz-Plasse) a lonely kid who is waaayyyyy too into his fantasy role-playing games. All four do great work - Plasse moves a step away from his McLovin' character, and Scott all but erases his typecasting as Stifler. Thompson is surely the crowd pleaser because...well, it's funny to watch 10-year old kids curse and hit grown-ups.

The less said the better. I don't want to ruin anything. Is Role Models an innovative piece of filmmaking? No. It's a formula and there are no surprises. But by refusing to bow to the sentimental parts of the genre, Role Models scores some major points with this cynical reviewer. Check it out. You won't be disappointed...unless you don't like watching 10-year old kids cursing and hitting grown-ups, of course!

TRIVIA: Because of the 2007 Writers' Strike, the writing team was not able to revise and perfect the script. Instead of waiting for the strike to end, they decided, "Screw it. If it ain't working, we'll just ab-lib it!" That spirit is obvious - and much to the movie's benefit. Don't tell me that Wheeler's story about the bald eagles isn't ab-libbed. It has to be!

MVP: Hard call. As I mentioned, little Bobbi J. Thompson would probably be the crowd pleasing favorite. And Seann William Scott has totally erased Stifler from my mind. Now when I think of him, I think of his optimistic horndog jumping up and down in his minotaur suit. But in the end, I think I am going to have to go with Paul Rudd. Paul Rudd as a straight man (like in I Love You, Man) is okay, but I much prefer him here. No one does world-weary, depressed cynicism better. The movie rests on his "life sucks" shoulders and he carries it all the way to the bank. Great performance.

BEST LINE: Gayle:

"I know why you're here. Ok? Your "presence" here, court-ordered.

Danny: Why did you put "presence" in quotes? Are you implying we're not here?"

Okay, that's not the best line. But it is the best line that is printable. My mom reads this blog!