Movie Review: Role Models

[xrr rating=3/5]

Role Models
2008, 99mins, R
Director: David Wain
Writer (s): David Wain, Paul Rudd
Cast includes: Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Elizabeth Banks, Jane Lynch, Bobb’e J. Thompson, Ken Jeong
Release Date: 7th November 2008

Based on the previews for Role Models I was expecting something really special, a film that blended heart and humor as well as other similar fare like Knocked Up or Superbad. I know that in today’s day and age buying into a trailer is a risky business but the promotional material for this one had me utterly sold and ready to believe it was as good as it looked, and so whilst it is rather amusing to find that Role Models was anything less than excellent came as a slight disappointment to me. My expectations where likely far to high because this is essentially an enjoyable enough movie, it’s just lacking in certain areas I expected it to fare better in.

Danny (Paul Rudd) and Wheeler (Seann William Scott) work for a firm that distributes energy drinks, and their specific task is to go visit schools and explain why this caffeine fuelled soft drink is a better alternative to drugs. Wheeler likes the job but Danny doesn’t, he finds it boring and unrewarding and these results are having a bad effect on his relationship with girlfriend Beth (Elizabeth Banks) and one day he takes his moaning to far, quickly getting dumped in the process. As a result he takes an energy drink fuelled bender on a school monument with an unsuspecting Wheeler and unsurprisingly the duo are facing a small jail time for their antics. An alternative is quickly offered instead, 150 hours community service at Sturdy Wings a program for kids who need another adult in their lives. They reluctantly take that option and are paired up with youngsters by the organizations crazy leader (Jane Lynch), Danny gets nerdy Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) and Wheeler the troubled and foul mouthed Ronnie (Bobb’e J. Thompson). Initially things don’t go so hot but after a while it appears the respective pairings are perfect for each other, but unsurprisingly the friendships are tested and everyone is faced with the prospect of growing up and treating life like a man.

I was a little underwhelmed by the lead performances here, I have time for both Seann William Scott and Paul Rudd but neither seems to be in top gear for Role Models. That is not to say the pair are bad, they each bring their particular talents to the table solidly but the chemistry between them feels standard and at times both appear happy to coast of the others ability. That said the screenplay writes them both as engaging enough fellows and whilst the actors never cram to full potential you’ll like the characters anyway. The scene stealers are the two kids and Jane Lynch, the latter bringing the weight of the hysterics as the ex-drug addicted head of Sturdy Wings. She isn’t as restrained with humanity as the other characters, but Lynch shows expert comic timing and a knack for improv that I admired. Plasse runs the risk of just providing McLovin the second, but the he actually gives a really spirited turn in Role Models and leaves the show grabbing to his youngster counterpart Bobb’e J. Thompson. Thompson is pretty funny and works well with Scott as a cynical and foul mouthed kid with a heart of gold, along with Lynch he probably accounts for the majority of the pictures gut laughs. Plasse on the other hand provides a little humanity as the removed and fantasy obsessed Augie, the performance isn’t as memorable or comedically assured as in Superbad, but it’s more humane and rounded. Finally Elizabeth Banks is again wasted, such a talented and pretty women should be taking lead roles but as was the case in Fred Claus and Definitely, Maybe she’s given a part below her ability. Mores the pity.

The screenplay for Role Models is working from a well worn template, men who act like kids are forced to grow up. That aspect of the film is a little dull and uninspired thanks to having seen it in hundreds of other flicks and thus the film finds itself relying on its ability to make the audience laugh. In that respect the movie is a success- it lacks the heart or story arc of some of the current crop of superior comedies but essentially it’s just as funny. The writing from director Wain and Rudd shows a real knowledge of how the mechanics of comedy work, next time they just need to form a better and more satisfying central story. Still when the film features scenes of Seann William Scott and Rudd sword fighting in a game filled with adult nerds in medieval costume, it deserves at least one slap on the back.

The conclusion is fitting enough for the film and at 99 minutes it doesn’t really ware out its welcome, the story may be old hat but Wain and crew doesn’t take it seriously enough for that to be a fatal flaw. The aim of Role Models is to make you laugh and touch you every once in a while, and so whilst it’s no comic masterpiece the majority should still find it funny enough to warrant a watch.