Role Models (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
Irresponsible behavior forces a pair of energy drink reps to enroll in a Big Brother program to escape jail in 'Role Models', directed by David Wain. Danny & Wheeler (Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott) are the 2 energy drink (called 'Minotaur') salesmen who crash a company truck & get in a heap of trouble. Upon their arrest, the judge actually gives them a choice: spend 150 hours with said mentorship program, or spend time in jail. Little did they know that jail would sound like the wiser choice, after all. Eh, I definitely laughed, a lot. The last 20 minutes are tons of fun. But much of this 'comedy' fell flat, in my opinion. Hit-or-miss.
Danny, age 35, has become a cold, cynical, emotionally unavailable person. And when he decides to spring a marriage proposal on his girlfriend (the always enjoyable Elizabeth Banks), it backfires. Wheeler is a profane wild child, but one who thinks even Danny should lighten up, a bit. And after meeting the mentorship's director (a funny Jane Lynch), they know they'll have an uphill battle; as she refuses to let them coast along their 150 hours. Danny & Wheeler are 2 'bigs' to 2 incredibly challenging 'littles': 1) Danny gets Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, of Superbad fame), a Live Action Role Playing addict ... basically, he thinks he lives in Middle Earth. 2) And Wheeler gets Ronnie (Bobb'e J. Thompson), an f-bomb dropping, boobie watching 10 yr. old.
Let's just say that none of their 4 personality traits match up in the slightest. Predictably, things start out quite rocky. Robbie only has his mom, so excursions with Wheeler 'could' help out. But Wheeler can't find a common ground with the profanity-wielding 10 yr. old. Poor Augie has a mom & step-dad who don't approve of his cape-wearing activities. But Danny doesn't like himself ... how could he care about Augie? Though no one is initially happy, the foursome DO start to forge mutual understandings; even respect. However, after a series of ridiculously contrived circumstances, Danny & Wheeler mess-up. Though they only had 11 hours to go (of their 150), they may be thrown back in jail? How will they redeem themselves before standing in front of the judge? Can they?
'Role Models' offers funny banter btwn. both the 2 leads, and the foursome, in general. Paul Rudd is great as a sarcastic misanthrope. Seann William Scott does what he does best (a more grown-up Stifler act, a la American Pie). Christopher Mintz-Plasse is physically awkward, but he knows how to finesse a joke. And I liked Bobb'e J. Thompson; though, some of his crude dialogue really did offend me (and its shock value wears off). I don't particularly enjoy hearing a barrage of curse words coming from a 10 yr. old. My favorite part of the film is the awesome last sequence (the entire cast assembles for a big medieval war in one of Augie's Live Action Role Playing games). The adults bonded with the kids; & in the process, all 4 become better human beings. Nice message.
But along with it being inconsistent (one moment it's hilarious, the next, tedious), my main problem with this film is that it doesn't cover any new ground. Some of the jokes aren't delivered with the necessary flair that truly engages an audience. Most of the jokes I have already heard before in superior comedies. And the plot is something we've seen before (or variations of it). It's a formulaic movie that relies on raunchiness, profanity, & a sweet ending to pull the wool over our eyes. But I'm not totally buying it. Would I ever see 'Role Models' again? Sure. It has its charms. But it isn't even in the Top 10 of comedies this year. It doesn't have the original qualities that make up a great comedy.
Danny, age 35, has become a cold, cynical, emotionally unavailable person. And when he decides to spring a marriage proposal on his girlfriend (the always enjoyable Elizabeth Banks), it backfires. Wheeler is a profane wild child, but one who thinks even Danny should lighten up, a bit. And after meeting the mentorship's director (a funny Jane Lynch), they know they'll have an uphill battle; as she refuses to let them coast along their 150 hours. Danny & Wheeler are 2 'bigs' to 2 incredibly challenging 'littles': 1) Danny gets Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, of Superbad fame), a Live Action Role Playing addict ... basically, he thinks he lives in Middle Earth. 2) And Wheeler gets Ronnie (Bobb'e J. Thompson), an f-bomb dropping, boobie watching 10 yr. old.
Let's just say that none of their 4 personality traits match up in the slightest. Predictably, things start out quite rocky. Robbie only has his mom, so excursions with Wheeler 'could' help out. But Wheeler can't find a common ground with the profanity-wielding 10 yr. old. Poor Augie has a mom & step-dad who don't approve of his cape-wearing activities. But Danny doesn't like himself ... how could he care about Augie? Though no one is initially happy, the foursome DO start to forge mutual understandings; even respect. However, after a series of ridiculously contrived circumstances, Danny & Wheeler mess-up. Though they only had 11 hours to go (of their 150), they may be thrown back in jail? How will they redeem themselves before standing in front of the judge? Can they?
'Role Models' offers funny banter btwn. both the 2 leads, and the foursome, in general. Paul Rudd is great as a sarcastic misanthrope. Seann William Scott does what he does best (a more grown-up Stifler act, a la American Pie). Christopher Mintz-Plasse is physically awkward, but he knows how to finesse a joke. And I liked Bobb'e J. Thompson; though, some of his crude dialogue really did offend me (and its shock value wears off). I don't particularly enjoy hearing a barrage of curse words coming from a 10 yr. old. My favorite part of the film is the awesome last sequence (the entire cast assembles for a big medieval war in one of Augie's Live Action Role Playing games). The adults bonded with the kids; & in the process, all 4 become better human beings. Nice message.
But along with it being inconsistent (one moment it's hilarious, the next, tedious), my main problem with this film is that it doesn't cover any new ground. Some of the jokes aren't delivered with the necessary flair that truly engages an audience. Most of the jokes I have already heard before in superior comedies. And the plot is something we've seen before (or variations of it). It's a formulaic movie that relies on raunchiness, profanity, & a sweet ending to pull the wool over our eyes. But I'm not totally buying it. Would I ever see 'Role Models' again? Sure. It has its charms. But it isn't even in the Top 10 of comedies this year. It doesn't have the original qualities that make up a great comedy.