Role Models
Energy-drink peddling colleagues, bitter Danny Donahue (Paul Rudd) and womanising Wheeler (Sean William Scott -the notorious Stifler) encounter some legal trouble when Danny rams their ‘Minotaur’ work truck into a school statue. But who can blame him – he just broke up with his hot lawyer girlfriend (Elizabeth Banks). Seriously who hasn’t thought about doing something reckless or violent after being dumped? What a legend!
What results is a choice between 30 days in jail or 150 hours of some seriously funny community service. Actress Jane Lynch perfectly depicts the nonsensical, reformed ex-junkie who runs “Sturdy Wings” big/little brother agency that Danny and Wheeler get sentenced to.
Wheeler gets assigned the cutest little demon black child (Bobb’e J. Thompson), whose adorability, juxtaposed with his outspoken vulgarity and violence results in often open-mouthed shocked hilarity, and more that likely the “R” rating. Danny gets the typical, yet lovable, teenage social outcast Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) who spends his spare time engaging in medieval role playing games, complete with old English speaking styles, ‘whispering eyes’ and an outfit complete with cape and sword.
As each protagonist embark on their own meaningful journeys, their individual and engaging qualities, the chemistry they develop with one another, and the fondness the audience develops for them, result in a memorable and amusing comedy.
The well written separate storylines intertwine and culminate in just the perfect amount of cheesy sentimentality with a hint of that ‘warm fuzzy feeling’ at the end.
I found myself laughing loudly, along with the rest of the audience, almost continuously throughout the entire film. I went in not expecting much but left anticipating the DVD release.
If you’re having reservations that it’s just another one of those typically ‘stoopid’ comedies that seem to be ruling the silver screen of late, I recommend that you quash any qualms and go see it.
- Jessica Luppino